Life for killer who claimed his wife suffocated when she gave him oral sex

A swinger who claimed he accidentally suffocated his partner to death as she performed ‘rough oral sex’ on him has been jailed for at least 18 years.

Robert Simpson-Scott, 44, called an ambulance after Sally Cavender, 55, lost consciousness on 4 December last year.

Simpson-Scott told the operator: ‘She’s dead, she’s gone, I’ve killed my wife’.

Ms Cavender, who was still alive, was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge but nothing could be done to save her and she died later that day.

But a doctor became suspicious and approached a police officer to tell them he believed she had been strangled.

When arrested he had a cut to his foot and a bump his head, but claimed they were accidents caused by stepping on broken glass and falling down the stairs.

Her injuries included a brain injury, fractured spine, and bruises all over her body.

Simpson-Scott told police his wife had been a dominatrix and they enjoyed bondage and
sado-masochistic sex.

‘She used to spank me and I used to spank her if that’s what you want to know,’ he said.

Simpson-Scott admitted manslaughter, but a Cambridge Crown Court jury found he had deliberated battered and strangled his wife and convicted him of murder.

Jailing him for life and ordering he serve at least 18 years before he can be considered for parole Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said: ‘You strangled her to death while she was staying in your flat.

‘It was a cruel killing.

‘She lost her life while she was in her prime, aged 55.

‘You killed her at a time when her own mother had to be told of the death of her own firstborn on her deathbed,’ she added.

The judge said scratches to her neck showed Ms Cavender made ‘feeble’ attempts to struggle.

‘Although unconsciousness would have come very swiftly, I am satisfied there was mental and physical suffering before her death.

‘She must have been aware that after being beaten by you she was being strangled to death by someone she loved.

‘It must have been an awful way to die,’ she said.

Simpson, who appeared via videolink from HMP Peterborough in a brown T-shirt, appeared emotionless as Ms Cavender’s family wept in court.

Anthony Metzer, QC, defending, told the court Simpson-Scott was plagued by grief due to the recent death of his father.

‘He was in a troubled state in the weeks coming up to the trial.

‘Partly because of his father, party because of his own psychological condition,’ said Mr Metzer.

‘It is difficult to argue the fact that of course he will also face the fact that he has killed his long term partner.

‘He will have to live with the fact he killed his long term partner, murdered her, and he retains his love for her.

‘The defendant, despite what he has done, retains his love for Sally Cavender albeit he has acted in a most terrible way and brought this upon himself.’

Simpson-Scott, from Lamb Drove, Cambourne, Cambridgeshire, denied but was convicted of murder.

He was sentenced to life and a minimum of 18 years.

In a statement, Sally’s brother Nick Cavender said: ‘Sally was a bright and bubbly person but she also lacked self-confidence and battled with alcohol dependency for many years.

‘While that led her to make very poor decisions about her lifestyle and choice of partner, she was a very vulnerable person and no-one deserves to have their life ended in the way that hers was.

‘Sally was killed just a few days before our mother died.

‘Indeed, Robert was supposed to take Sally to see our mother the day after [he killed her]. Instead of a visit from Sally, my mum had a visit from the police.

‘Mum did everything she could to support Sally, and while as a family we wish we could have done more to help her, the reality was she was being controlled and used by an evil, manipulative man who did nothing to help her.

‘Those who knew Sally remember her as a lovely girl and now the trial is over, we hope to hold a memorial to remember happier times and we hope that Sally is now at peace.

‘We would like to thank the paramedics, police and pathologists, and all involved, in their hard work in investigating her tragic murder.’

Sally’s sister Suzy Cavender said: ‘We are deeply traumatised by Sally’s tragic murder and were too shocked and overwhelmed with grief to be able to attend the trial.

‘It is sickening that Robert tried to twist Sally’s murder and it has only added further injury to our shock and pain.

‘Those who knew Sally remember her as a lovely girl and we all found out, when it was too late to help her, that she was being conned and controlled by a very evil man for his own gain.’

Detective Inspector Emma Pitts, who investigated, said: ‘Simpson-Scott viciously took away the life of his partner of 15 years, who no doubt trusted him beyond measure.

‘Sally’s family will remember her as a much-loved daughter and sister. They describe her as a bright, bubbly girl who loved to travel, go to concerts and was full of laughter and fun.

‘They will never see her again and they have been left absolutely devastated. Simpson-Scott tried to deny the horrific attack but today justice has been done.

‘I hope this fact helps Sally’s family, in some way, to live with their loss and grief.’