Warning after dancer fatally choked during sex

Georgia Brooke's passion for dancing was described as "her life" by her family

A coroner has issued a warning after an inquest heard how a woman was fatally strangled by her boyfriend during sex.

Georgia Brooke, 26, was choked by Luke Cannon, who himself was found dead the following day, Bradford Coroner's Court was told.

Recording a conclusion of unlawful killing, senior coroner Martin Fleming described the practice of sexual choking as "dangerous" and said it "all too often ends in fatal consequences".

Miss Brooke's mother, Samantha Beaumont, said the family's search for justice had "finally come to an end".

Mr Cannon, 31, accompanied his girlfriend to the hospital on the night of the incident on 3 February 2022 but fled through a fire door before police could speak to him, the proceedings were told.

A murder investigation was launched, but he was later found dead in a wooded area near Bradford Royal Infirmary.

An inquest into Mr Cannon's death is due to take place on Thursday.

Statements from the couple's friends read to the court told how the pair had an "experimental" sexual relationship.

They explained Miss Brooke, who lived in Ossett near Wakefield at the time of her death, had a sexual interest in choking.

This was verified by text messages seen by police in the aftermath of her death.

However, forensic pathologist Chris Johnson told the inquest that pressure on Miss Brooke's neck would have to have been sustained for a period of time after she lost consciousness for her to die.

Miss Brooke's picture was taken into court by her mother, Samantha Beaumont, and her sister, Nadia Brooke

In his conclusion, Mr Fleming said that while there was no evidence Mr Cannon had intended to kill his girlfriend during the incident at his Bradford home, he had used "excessive" force.

Miss Brooke "could not have consented to the fatal consequences" of his actions, he said.

Adding that Miss Brooke's death should send a "strong message" to people tempted to engage in choking during sex, he said: "This type of sex act is dangerous and reckless and it all too often ends in fatal consequences."

Miss Brooke's mother had earlier told the inquest how her daughter, the youngest of four siblings, had "excelled" at dancing from the age of five and performed tap, ballet and modern dancing to a high standard.

Before her death, she had been offered work as a dancer in Greece, where she had previously worked in 2020.

'Always in our hearts'

In a statement read to the inquest, Ms Beaumont said her daughter's behaviour had changed after she started seeing Mr Cannon in 2021, but her concerns had been dismissed by Miss Brooke.

She said Mr Cannon had been "coercive" and told his girlfriend "what to wear". She also claimed he had been "controlling" to the point of telling her where to sit when he joined the family for Christmas.

However, a statement from Mr Cannon's brother, Joshua, said he had "genuinely cared" for Miss Brooke and was a "generous person who would always do what he could to help people".

In a statement read outside court after the inquest, Ms Beaumont said the family's "journey to seeking justice and closure has finally come to an end".

She added: "Georgia had her whole life ahead of her. Her passion for dancing was her life and her true love. Georgia was 26 years young - a beautiful and talented dancer - adored and loved by her mother and equally by her family.

"Georgia, you are always in our hearts and forever on our minds. We love you, keep dancing with the angels."

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