British court in east England clears Steven Lock of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ assault

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LONDON: A British court on Tuesday cleared a man of assault after he engaged in a sadomasochistic sex session inspired by best-selling erotic novel “Fifty Shades of Grey”.

The jury at Ipswich Crown Court in east England heard that Steven Lock, 43, and a woman in her 40s conducted a relationship based around “master-slave” role playing after meeting on the Internet.

Prosecutors said that Lock had crossed the line into criminality after chaining the woman “like a dog” to his floor and whipping her with a rope.

But the jury ruled that the woman had never said “red”, a code-word for either partner to stop if the other felt uncomfortable.

The woman, who had the words “Property of Steven Lock” tattooed around her genitals, also signed a contract promising Lock free use of her body and entitling him to lash her. Lock, a jeweller, said the jury “had seen sense”. “It’s the right verdict,” he added.

“This case should never have reached court. As far as I’m concerned it was a consensual activity between adults.”

The woman, who suffered bruising to the buttocks and neck, told the court: “I knew there would be pain involved and I knew I wasn’t going to like it but I’d agreed to it and had to follow it through.” — AFP