He was a recognizable face on television, starring in a popular soap and building a loyal fan base, with plans for the future that seemed full of promise. But one evening in January 2025 turned into a tragedy that is now being discussed across Britain. At first, it appeared to be an ordinary meeting arranged through a dating app — a series of explicit messages, an agreement to meet, and a visit to a flat in north Manchester.
According to the investigation, their conversation quickly shifted from everyday topics to intimate fantasies. The two men discussed their “limits” and preferences. What followed was later described by prosecutors as “high-risk sexual activity.” One of them was restrained, held face-down, and pressure applied to his neck was so forceful that it fractured cartilage and bone.
Most chilling of all, the lack of oxygen led to cardiac arrest. Instead of immediately calling emergency services, the flat’s owner began searching online about his chances of going to prison and even ordered takeaway food. Only later did he dial 999. The court found that his actions amounted to grievous bodily harm and intentional suffocation, though the jury did not convict him of manslaughter. He was sentenced to four years in prison.
The victim was 38-year-old Hollyoaks actor Michael Barron. He arrived at the flat at around 4:27pm on January 26. The last activity on his phone was at 5:45pm — a brief call to a drug dealer. Between 7:00pm and 7:56pm, prosecutors believe the sexual activity took place.
In court, messages between the pair were read aloud. The flat’s owner described his interest in “rough” sex, asking for permission to choke, tie up, humiliate, and engage in extreme role-play. Barron agreed to some of these acts, stating that he liked being “completely helpless.” However, prosecutors argued that consent is no defense if someone foresees the risk to another person’s life and proceeds anyway.
His defense lawyer maintained that he never intended to cause harm and claimed their messages were merely fantasy. But jurors concluded that the danger was obvious and the risk was knowingly taken. The case now stands as a stark reminder that the line between fantasy and fatal reality can be tragically thin.
