An Old Etonian threatened to throw his estranged partner down a 240-foot-deep well in a ‘sadistic method to bring about the death of somebody,’ a court heard.
Douglas Clifton Brown, who was found guilty of attempted murder, brutally assaulted Camilla Welby during an argument in a car following drinks at a friends house on August 12, 2023.
The 56-year-old changed routes whilst driving, and instead of heading to her house, he journeyed to an estate his family had owned for generations – High House Estate near Congham.
Clifton Brown was said to have become angry and hit Ms Welby in the face on the way to the well and as they arrived nearby, Norwich Crown Court was told.
She managed to fight him off by wrapping her scarf around his neck and throttling him until he nearly passed out, an earlier trial was told.
Clifton Brown, 56, whose family line includes eight former Parliamentarians, had admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and a threat to kill.
He denied attempted murder but a jury convicted him unanimously on January 16 after just four hours of deliberation.
His attempt to murder his partner by throwing her down a well was described as a ‘sadistic method to bring about the death of somebody,’ at a sentencing hearing yesterday.
Douglas Clifton Brown, pictured, brutally assaulted Camilla Welby during a car journey from a friend’s house before driving to an estate his family had owned for generations and attempting to drag her towards the disused well
Camilla Welby managed to fight him off by wrapping her scarf around his neck and throttling him until he nearly passed out
The defendant claimed the well, pictured, was around 20ft deep but police estimated the depth to be around 240ft
Brown and Ms Welby had been in a 15-year relationship but had separated by the time of the incident on the evening of August 12, 2023.
Ms Welby has sustained a suspected fractured nose and extensive bruising to her head and face, the court heard earlier in the trial.
Police were contacted that night when she reached Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, following the horrific assault.
The couple began their events company, mostly catering for weddings, in 2020 after Clifton Brown paid a ‘large amount of money’ to rid himself of a ‘difficult business partner’.
The main house was destroyed in a fire in 1939 but the walled garden and outbuildings are now used to host visitors.
Ms Welby helped with the events but the court heard she was financially self-sufficient as she has stocks and shares and a holiday rental property.
Clifton Brown, who is on anti-depressants for ADHD, had two previous convictions – one for fraud involving driving documents which led to a fine, and a caution for two assaults on Ms Welby in 2018.
He initially insisted he didn’t assault her in the latest incident, telling police at the time that the claims were ‘absolute baloney’ and adding: ‘She’s gone bonkers and is making it up.’
During the trial, the court heard a harrowing police interview with Miss Welby, who described how she ‘fought for her life’. Picture: The fenced off well at High House, Congham
A general view of High House Estate near Congham, Norfolk, which is owned by the Clifton Brown family
Yesterday, Edward Renvoize, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing: ‘The case is unusual and the court isn’t often presented with a case where the mechanism of death was as intended.’
He also described throwing someone down a well was a ‘sadistic method to bring about the death of somebody.’
Mr Renvoize said Clifton Brown had ‘filled the well with water from a large commercial water butt’.
He also noted that there was a ‘history of violence or abuse’ by the Old Etonian towards Ms Welby.
Ms Welby, reading her victim impact statement from behind a screen at Norwich Crown Court, said she was ‘gaslighted’ during their 15-year relationship.
‘Seeing Mr Clifton Brown in court left me so terrified I ran from the court,’ she said.
She also told the court that she now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adding: ‘When Mr Clifton Brown is released I will always look over my shoulder – I will never feel safe.’
Stan Reiz KC, mitigating, said the incident ‘was an escalation of his (Clifton Brown’s) anger’.
‘It was him in a fit of rage lashing out at his partner,’ he said.
Douglas Clifton Brown sentencing hearing at Norwich Crown Court (pictured) has been adjourned until April 2
The barrister said Clifton Brown’s ‘depression led him to take the irrational view that he would take his own life as well’.
He said the offence was ‘committed in a domestic abuse context’ but the defendant ‘has his own narrative of how that relationship went’.
Clifton Brown was found guilty of attempted murder after an earlier trial and admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and making a threat to kill.
Judge Alice Robinson said she needed further time to consider submissions by the barristers and adjourned the case until April 2.
‘I’m not going to be in a position to sentence Mr Clifton Brown this afternoon,’ she said, whilst warning Brown that he faced a ‘long custodial sentence’.
