Man cleared of Fifty Shades assault (From Andover Advertiser)
When news happens, text AND and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Man cleared of Fifty Shades assault
3:07pm Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in National News © Press Association 2013
A man has been cleared of assault after role play inspired by erotic bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey
A man has been cleared of assault after a court heard a "master-slave" sex session inspired by erotic novel Fifty Shades Of Grey overstepped the boundaries of fantasy.
Steven Lock, 43, and a woman in her forties, who cannot be named for legal reasons, began a relationship based around sadomasochistic role play after meeting on a dating website.
But prosecutors alleged that last August the fantasy went too far as Lock chained the women "like a dog" to his bedroom floor and whipped her repeatedly with a rope.
He denied assault causing actual bodily harm, saying the woman had consented.
At Ipswich Crown Court, a jury of 10 men and two women took just over two hours to find Lock, of Plover Road, Ipswich, not guilty.
During the trial, Lock was asked by defence counsel Roger Thomson if he and the alleged victim had read Fifty Shades Of Grey.
He replied: "That's where we got the idea from."
Outside court, jeweller Mr Lock said he was relieved that the jury "had seen sense".
He said: "It's the right verdict. This case should never have reached court.
"As far as I'm concerned, it was a consensual activity between adults."
