Hungerford pensioner Geoff Smith may have died in bungled arson insurance scam

A pensioner killed by smoke inhalation may have died in an arson insurance scam gone wrong.

Geoffrey Gordon Smith, aged 72, was pulled from his blazing home in Priory Avenue, Hungerford, on August 16 last year, an inquest in Reading Town Hall heard on Tuesday, February 25.

But it was too late to save him.

Firefighters who later conducted a forensic examination ruled out electrical faults or burning cigarette butts as the cause.

Instead they found bundles of newspapers with candles beneath them and lighters nearby, the hearing was told.

Neighbour Michelle O’Sullivan said in a statement that her son had alerted her around 11.13am on the day in question, saying he could see smoke coming from Mr Smith’s home.

She added: “I could see all the windows were closed; I banged on a window to get the attention of anyone inside.”

As more smoke began pouring from air bricks, another neighbour tried to break in but was beaten back by fumes.

Firefighters arrived within 11 minutes of a 999 call and found Mr Smith lying on his back in an upstairs room.

Toxicology tests showed no illegal drugs or alcohol in his system and a post mortem examination found he had suffocated from smoke inhalation, exacerbated by underlying health conditions.

Berkshire coroner Heidi Connor said Mr Smith had no history of mental health issues or suicidal ideation.

The inquest heard there were two seats for the blaze – one in an upstairs bedroom and another in a cupboard.

Unlit candles were found beneath scrunched up newspapers in other areas of the home but these had not ignited.

In a cupboard were jackets with scrunched up newspaper stuffed in the sleeves.

Ms Connor said: “It seems the investigation showed he was in a locked, sealed house with the windows and doors locked and that the fires were deliberately started by Geoff.”

She asked a family member present whether Mr Smith’s relatives believed Mr Smith had intended to kill himself.

She replied: “We really think he wasn’t trying to end his life – we thought he was going down the road of an insurance claim.

“We think it just backfired on him.”

Ms Connor said: “It’s likely he set up to light fires in multiple parts of the house.

“There were newspapers with candles underneath them but the fire services extinguished the fire before it could spread further.

“The family doesn’t believe it was his intention to end his life that day.

“I take account of the family’s views; it’s an unusual scenario, it’s fair to say, for someone to take their life in quite this manner.

“An alternative suggestion for why he might have done this has been suggested by the family today.”

She concluded: “Geoffrey Gordon Smith died after deliberately starting fires in his home; his intentions in doing this are unclear.”