Woman’s attic bondage agony

7:00pm Tuesday 28th March 2006

A MAN has admitted assault after a court heard how he hanged his partner by her breasts in a bondage session.

Edward Toolan, of Kime Street, Burnley, was spared jail, but given a 12-month community order which may include probation work on his attitude to women.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Toolan got the idea from the internet and tied Stephanie Monks with washing lines from an attic ceiling.

Miss Monks passed out in pain and was left with bruises and severe ligature marks and could possibly be scarred for life, the court was told. Toolan, 40, was said to have threatened to kill Miss Monks, with whom he had lived with for three years, when she questioned him, Miss Monks, said to be frightened of Toolan, told officers she thought he was sick and needed help with his mental health.

Toolan yesterday pleaded guilty assault causing actual bodily harm.

David Pickup, prosecuting, said Miss Monks separated from Toolan about last July after claiming she was petrified he would kill her.

Earlier, in about May, Toolan had been on the internet and asked Miss Monks : "How would you like me to do that to you?"

She fell asleep but about 9.30pm was woken up and taken upstairs to the spare room, the court was told.

Mr Pickup said Miss Monks must have passed out for about five minutes and she woke up in a bedroom.

Toolan was arrested on July 29 and told police the act was by consent.

Anthony Cross, defending, said : "This particular instance of violence is an extension of that which had occurred consensually between them both on very many occasions."

Judge Beverley Lunt said, whether the incident began as consensual or not, the onus was on the Toolan to make sure Miss Monks did not get hurt.