A woman tragically died while conducting a sex act in a shower, an inquiry has found.
Sandra Moore, also known as Michaela, was found dead inside of her flat at an accommodation block in Shelton, Staffordshire.
Medical tests found that she had monkey dust in her system at the time of her death, which was caused by an external neck compression brought on by hanging.
The inquest heard that a man had been seen leaving her flat shortly before her body was discovered but it was concluded that she died in an act of "autoeroticism".
A murder investigation was launched by police, but they later ruled out any third-party involvement in 40-year-old Sandra's death.
A police officer provided the inquest with evidence to show that Sandra had been working in prostitution, reports StokeonTrentLive.
The hearing was also told that men would climb through the window to gain access to her women-only accommodation block, from which men were banned.
Emergency services had been called to the address – operated by Concrete Housing – in the early hours of May 31 last year. A member of staff had last seen her alive at midnight.
The employee told the inquest: "At 12.20am I heard a bang so I knocked on her door. At 1am I heard another loud bang, I went to her door and knocked. She spoke through the door.
"I asked her to keep the noise down. At 1.30am, I asked if she was okay and there wasn’t a response. I didn’t have any concerns.
“At around 7.55am I heard a male come out of her room, I had never seen him before. I went inside and saw she was inside the shower. I left to get my phone to call the ambulance.”
The inquest heard that a man was arrested and interviewed on suspicion of murder.
Detective Sergeant Adam Turton said: “The deceased was found in a shower cubicle in a seated position. We spoke to other residents who were there.
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“(She) used drugs and was involved in prostitution, according to a witness."
According to the officer, the man arrested on suspicion of murder admitted being present, and said Sandra was an ex-girlfriend.
The inquest heard that the day before her death, the pair met and she was upset.
DS Turton added: “She invited him back and he sneaked in. They talked and smoked. He passed out. They both used monkey dust together. He denied murder. On CCTV we could see the two of them. It gave support to his story. There was no evidence to suggest force was used on her.”
The inquest heard she had previously tried to kill herself. But North Staffordshire assistant coroner Daniel Howe ruled out suicide, instead recording a conclusion of ‘misadventure’.
He said: “The findings are in keeping with her having hanged herself. On the balance of probabilities, this was not an attempt to end her own life. There’s no clear evidence of recent suicidal ideation.
"It was an act of autoeroticism. I do not find she intended to end her own life. It’s not a case of suicide. The conclusion is one of misadventure.”
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