Mr. Brierley said thereafter he and Carol sorted out their joint affairs by way of correspondence. He sent her documents to sign, which were duly returned without difficulty. Carol made over the house which had been in joint names to him and they sold the car that they had bought together, which was a Ford Escort.
Mr. West the headmaster of Sunningdales said that Carol continued to work at the school until the end of the Summer term. On the day following the end of that term she had visited him at home. She had said she was unsure of what she wanted to do. She wanted to go home to the children and seemed not so happy in her relationship any more with Mr. Brierley. She had mentioned perhaps particularly Mr. Brierley's son had been difficult to manage. After that Mr. West said he had no further contact with Carol. She had failed to turn up for duty on the first day of the new term in September. However, shortly after that he received a letter from her which we had read to us, and perhaps we should just look at that if you have still got your folders open at the relevant page. A letter of the 4th of September of 1975, and perhaps we can look at the second paragraph. Mr. West writing to the County Education Officer in Middlesborough, and it says "On the last day of the Summer term Mrs. Brierley failed to arrive at school, and it was later reported by Mr. Brierley that she had been taken to the doctor, who diagnosed severe depression. Mr. Brierley has been in contact with me during the holiday period, firstly to state that Mrs. Brierley had left the house and her whereabouts was not known, and then later to report that she had returned, and finally on Thursday the 28th of August, to report that she had once again left his home, and he believed she had returned to the Barrow in Furness area. Although he was by no means certain, he believed that she would have gone to live with her mother", and an address is given. "He did not anticipate that Mrs. Brierley would return to his home again, and he made it quite apparent to me that he in fact had no wish to resume the situation with her. Mrs. Brierley has made no contact with me, either during the holiday period or since the opening of the school. No medical note has been forwarded to the school", and he goes on to explain his practical problems.