Calls for review of ‘unduly lenient’ sentence for man who left scalded partner to die
A man who avoided jail over the manslaughter of his partner who was badly scalded in a bath should have his “unduly lenient” sentence reviewed, campaigners have said.
Last week Mark Clowes was handed a two-year sentence, suspended for two years, for the gross negligence manslaughter of his 42-year-old partner, Clare Bell, in 2020.
Stafford Crown Court heard how on August 9 of that year, at 11am, Clowes gave Ms Bell a hot bath and then helped her out of it.
Jurors were told how she was incapable as she had been drinking and it would have been obvious to the 53-year-old that Ms Bell had suffered serious scald injuries.
Clowes didn’t check on his partner for a number of hours or seek medical attention despite him being aware of the extent of her injuries and her being incapable of doing this for herself.
At 5.10pm, on August 9, Clowes called 999 and asked for an ambulance, but Ms Bell, who was found on their bed at their home on Church Street in Audley, Staffordshire, had already died.
