Man avoids jail over partner's scalding bath death

Clare Bell suffered serious scald injuries after she was helped into a hot bath but was unable to get herself out

A man has avoided jail over the gross negligence manslaughter of his partner who died following a scalding bath.

Clare Bell, 42, suffered serious injuries after she was helped into the tub, but was unable to get herself out as she had been drinking, police said.

Mark Clowes, 53, of Audley, Staffordshire, was given a two-year suspended sentence, and will be required to take part in an alcohol treatment programme as well as undertaking rehabilitation activity.

He was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Friday.

His trial last year heard how Clowes gave Ms Bell a hot bath, then helped her out of it as she was incapable through drink.

Police said it would have been obvious to Clowes that she had suffered serious scald injuries.

He later remarked to a paramedic that he saw that her skin had shed from her feet.

Clowes did not check on Ms Bell for a number of hours or seek medical attention, despite being aware of the extent of her injuries and her being incapable of getting help for herself.

Extensive scalding

Clowes later called for an ambulance, but when crews found Ms Bell on the couple's bed she had already died.

She had extensive scalding and 30% full-thickness burns, where all three layers of skin are damaged, and a pathologist's report said the scalding had contributed to Ms Bell's death.

In a statement after the sentencing, Ms Bell's relatives said: “As a family, hearing the details of our beloved Clare’s death has been extremely upsetting.

“Clare was taken from us by the person she trusted and who should have taken care of her.

“We continue to remember Clare when she was happy and healthy, and all of the good times we shared together.”

Det Ch Insp Cheryl Hannan of Staffordshire Police said: "Clare could have been saved that day by the person she trusted - she wasn’t.

"Her family will never know how different things could have been."