A former Tory Mayor suffocated to death in a crack den after putting a plastic bag over his head and tying himself to a chair while seeking sexual pleasure, an inquest heard.
The body of Les Winwood, 67, who was the former mayor of Bridgenorth, Shropshire, was found at a property in Bilston, Wolverhampton, on July 17, 2022.
An inquest heard how a post-mortem examination found he had spent hours alone consuming crack cocaine and vodka before he was found dead in a camping chair.
Mr Winwood had visited the address of crack cocaine dealer, Keith Kennedy, several times and it was likely he had been ‘seeking sexual pleasure there’, a coroner ruled.
The inquest into his death at Black Country Coroners Court was held today and revealed Mr Winwood died as a result of misadventure.
The unmarried councillor’s cause of death was suffocation, with intoxication, cocaine use and coronary heart disease also contributing factors.
The hearing was told the use of cocaine whilst trying to achieve sexual arousal through asphyxiation would have placed considerable strain on the heart, which Mr Winwood was taking medication for.
The body of Les Winwood, 67, was found at a property in Bilston, Wolverhampton, on July 17, 2022
Keith Kennedy (pictured) had been out of the property when Mr Winwood died but he was later jailed for two years after pleading guilty to being concerned in the production of crack cocaine
Black Country Coroner Joanne Lees ruled no-one else was involved in the death.
Phone records showed the veteran councillor had arrived at the property at 2pm the day before with a bottle of vodka and other items.
He had used a shoelace to tie one of his arms to the chair and had placed a plastic bag over his own head.
Kennedy had been out of the property when Mr Winwood died but he was later jailed for two years after pleading guilty to being concerned in the production of crack cocaine.
He phoned the emergency services but only after he removed cocaine and drug paraphernalia from the property.
Officers who attended the property noticed tell tale signs of drug use and production and subsequently found CCTV footage of Kennedy removing items from his home before they arrived.
Mr Winwood, of Tasley, Shrops., held his councillor role for many years and was twice the chairman of Bridgnorth Council.
He was involved in local politics for over 40 years.
Paying tribute to him after his death, the Conservative association said: ‘He was a selfless servant of his community and much loved and admired by all who knew him.
‘He was kind, considerate and went out of his way to represent his constituents.’
