Mother of three accidentally hanged herself

Date published: 06 March 2010

A mother of three accidentally hanged herself after she dressed up as a St Trinian's-style schoolgirl for a kinky sex game, an inquest heard.

Teaching assistant Andrea Crossfield, 44, was found hanged from a bedroom door with a leather belt around her neck.

She was said to have been involved in a "strange and unnatural" relationship with her boyfriend Gavin Openshaw, 40.

They had met on a blind date just over a year before her death.

Openshaw was arrested on suspicion on manslaughter on the night of her death at their home in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, in September 2008.

But he was released on bail the following day and was cleared of any blame the following June.

The inquest at Rochdale heard from Andrea's devastated family who described her as a "proud" woman who would not have intended to kill herself.

Her youngest daughter, Jade Crossfield, 21, said: "She confided in me that he had made her dress up in different outfits.

"She was respected by teachers, pupils and parents and everyone she met.

"I can't accept for one minute that she would ruin her reputation by taking her own life dressed as she was."

Andrea's father, Graham Fleet, 74, said: "The way she was dressed, I am told, she would never have wanted anyone to find her like that."

Andrea was as a Year Six teaching assistant at Hollins Grundy Primary School in Bury.

Openshaw was unemployed and often drank up to a litre of vodka a day, the inquest was told.

During the police investigation, a noose made out of scarf material was found hanging from a loft hatch.

A note in Andrea's handwriting was also found in the house.

It said that although she had been feeling stressed, she did not have the "guts" to kill herself because she loved her family so much.

Andrea had been showing signs of stress and had not returned to school after the 2008 summer break.

Rochdale Coroner Simon Nelson recorded an open verdict and said the evidence suggested Andrea could have been involved in consensual sexual activity when she died.