Rugby star Ricky Bibey 'involved in explosive fight with ex' on night he was found dead

Rugby star Ricky Bibey 'involved in explosive fight with ex' on night he was found dead Ricky Bibey 'attacked' girlfriend Jennie Platt in hotel room before he was found dead hours later, an inquest into the former Rugby League star's death has heard The ex-girlfriend of rugby star Ricky Bibey spoke of her terror after being involved in a fight with him on the night he was found dead in an Italian hotel room. Jennie Platt suffered life-changing injuries after he beat her during a violent struggle in Florence, Italy. An inquest into his death heard how she suffered life-changing injuries after the attack. Ms Platt said she 'fought back' during the clash with the 6ft 2in former athlete, who weighed almost 19 stone, before she passed out. Mr Bibey's naked body was later found in a room at the Continentale Hotel on July 16, 2022. The father-of-three, a former rugby league star with Wigan Warriors, Leigh Centurions, St Helens and Wakefield Trinity, struggled with mental health problems and drug addiction after his retirement from the sport. Rochdale Coroners' Court heard he had left estate agent owner Ms Platt in intensive care and requiring multiple surgeries. Giving evidence remotely, she said she had travelled to Italy with Mr Bibey in an attempt to resurrect their relationship which started three-and-a-half years earlier. Manchester Evening News reported that the former sports star had receiving residential treatment for his drug and alcohol addiction at Sporting Chance clinic, a charity for current and former athletes suffering with addiction, visiting the clinic a final time in January 2020. His father then paid for him to attend a private rehab clinic based in Bolton, Acquiesce, but he relapsed after each intervention despite telling his family he was determined to turn things around, the court was told. "His taking drugs, it was just like a bit of a spiral really. It was almost like a crutch for him when he was really struggling and he would just go off. Sometimes he would go off for days and we would not see him for a few days. Then he would be upset with himself and apologetic. It was like he was disgusted with himself," said Ms Platt, adding that he 'felt really lost'. Mr Bibey had a property portfolio and a window cleaning business, but it 'wasn't work that kept him busy every day', she said. Before the trip to Italy, his behaviour had become 'really erratic' and he had 'gone off the rails', according to Ms Platt. The court heard how the couple had determined to see if they could 'make things work', but he went 'on a bender' days before the Italy trip, according to Ms Platt, who said she told him during a conversation on FaceTime she had decided not to go. She said she then changed her mind when he showed her a noose in his flat. She described how, once in Florence, the pair went out. He purchased a bottle of prosecco, gave her one glass and then he 'downed the rest', she said. Mr Bibey kept 'disappearing' and she told the court she thought he was buying drugs. She admitted she also consumed some drugs. When they returned to their room at the Hotel Continentale, Ms Platt said she went to the bathroom and she heard him snorting cocaine in the bedroom. She said she asked him what he was doing, and told him she would get another room for the night. She then told the court she agreed to stay, but when she grabbed a duvet to sleep in the bathroom he 'yanked her out'. Ms Platt said she 'fought back' and later thought he had left the room. When she heard a knock at the door, she believed it was the concierge coming to check on her because of the 'quite heated argument' they had been having. But when Mr Bibey entered, she told the court 'it was like it wasn't him'. "It was like his eyes. It was like a demon. His eyes were quite glazed and then it was like a big argument," said Ms Platt, who added he 'was getting really agitated'. Ms Platt said she suggested she get another room and he said 'no you're not' and 'no-one is leaving the room tonight. "I told him I'm really scared and he's scaring me. I told him I was really scared: 'Will you stop it I'm really scared'," she told the inquest. Sobbing, Ms Platt said Mr Bibey grabbed her as she was 'scrambling to get away' and was kicking him 'as hard as I could'. She said she was shouting the names of her sons to try and stop him but she 'just could not get away'. Ms Platt said she remembered her 'last breath' before losing consciousness. When she came round on the bathroom floor, she said she saw Mr Bibey's body. She said she believed she was screaming for help 'but no noise was coming out'. She said she attempted to resuscitate him without success and then banged on the door of a room opposite to get help. Ms Platt ended up in intensive care in hospital and was left with 'life-changing' injuries after a number of surgeries, the inquest heard. She was unaware of how she was hurt until Italian investigators showed her photographs. The inquest heard Mr Bibey had appeared 'dishevelled and confused' when he went to the hotel reception three-and-half hours before his death, claiming he had been struck to the head. When she was well enough, Ms Platt was interviewed as a suspect rather than as a witness by Italian police who treated the case initially as a potential murder, Detective Inspector Clare Harrison of GMP told the court. Detectives in Florence later decided to take no further action against her, concluding she was so badly hurt she 'physically would not have been able' to apply the force required to his neck. Pathologist Dr Charles Wilson, who conducted a second post mortem examination once the body had been repatriated, recorded the cause of death as 'neck compression', just as the Italian autopsy had concluded. He admitted, however, his post mortem had been 'compromised' as many organs had been removed by the post mortem in Italy for analysis. He noted a number of injuries including a bruise on the scalp and abrasions to the head, neck, limbs and right wrist with more bruising on his knuckles of his right hand. Abrasions to his nose indicated he had probably either been pinched on the nose or he had snorted cocaine, said Dr Wilson. The injuries were 'entirely consistent' with the evidence from the hotel room. The pathologist said he could not say from the post-mortem medical evidence whether the neck compression had been self-inflicted or caused by someone else. Toxicology tests conducted by the Italian authorities revealed cocaine in Mr Bibey's system although the amount 'wasn't high', said Dr Wilson. The tests also indicated alcohol consumption, the court was told. The court heard evidence from Mr Bibey's GP, Dr Peter Walsh, that Mr Bibey had been treated for mental health problems since 2017. The director of Sporting Chance, Colin Bland, said in a statement Mr Bibey was first referred to the charity in the same year, spending a month in its Hampshire clinic. He attended again in 2019 after Mr Bibey 'attempted to hang himself', and again in 2021. He received more treatment from the charity, set up by former Arsenal and England defender Tony Adams, in 2022. Mr Bibey spent two months at another rehab clinic in 2022, Acquiesce in Bolton, paid for by his father. His mental health deteriorated when a ruptured Achilles tendon forced his retirement from professional rugby, according to his father. Recording an open verdict, Assistant Coroner Lisa Judge recorded the medical cause of death as 'neck compression' but said the evidence did not establish on the balance of probabilities whether at the time he intended to end his own life. She found that Mr Bibey had been 'floundering' after his retirement from rugby which had provided him with 'structure' and 'purpose'. The consumption of drugs and alcohol prior to his death 'materially affected his personality and judgement', she said. Ms Judge said she accepted the account provided by Ms Platt who had been 'subjected to serious violence by Rickey Bibey' and she had acted to 'defend herself'. Her injuries were were 'not compatible with her being responsible for any act of violence' while she had suffered 'exceptional trauma'. She said of Mr Bibey: "His behaviour had become irrational and confused and markedly different from his usual presentation." When life is difficult, Samaritans are available day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org