A MAN has admitted killing a Darlington woman by choking her during a sex session gone wrong.

Sam Pybus has pleaded guilty to manslaughter following the death of Sophie Moss in February this year.

The 31-year-old, who appeared at Teesside Crown Court wearing a grey suit, was charged with murder but entered a not guilty plea, which was accepted by the prosecution.

Miss Moss, 33, was found unresponsive by police at an address in Glaisdale Court, Darlington, in the early hours of Sunday, February 7.

She was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The Northern Echo: Sophie MossSophie Moss

Sam Green QC, representing Pybus, said his client accepted responsibility for the death of Miss Moss and had offered a basis of plea for manslaughter.

He said: "The defendant has informed his legal team that he will plead guilty on the basis of - One: he accepts that he applied hand pressure to the neck of Sophie Moss. she consented to that hand pressure as part of the sexual activity that she and Sam Pybus were engaging in and she had done so previously.

"Two: he accepts that the pressure applied to her neck on this occasion caused her death.

"Three: he had no intention of harming her or causing her injury."

Pybus, of Water View, Middleton St. George, Darlington, will be sentenced on September 7 and was remanded in custody.

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