£10,000 damages over council ‘no sex’ warning

A council has agreed to pay £10,000 damages after telling a woman to stop having sex with her Down’s syndrome husband in case she committed a crime, as they claimed he did not have the mental capacity to consent.

Following the council’s letter, the woman moved into a separate bedroom and “significantly reduced any physical expressions of affection” in order “not to lead him on”, a judge heard at the Court of Protection in Leeds. Sir Mark Hedley told the court it was a breach of human rights.