Hoarder who had so many vinyl records he slept on the kitchen worktop died after fire ripped through his cramped flat
BOYS NIGHT OUT
A MUSICIAN hoarder who stuffed his flat with so many records and guitars he slept on a kitchen worktop died after a fire ripped though his home, an inquest has heard.
Dad-of-one Robert Crane, 61, had instruments, amps and clothes piled so high in his flat they reached the ceiling.
He died of smoke inhalation, after a metal dish used for cooking which was found among hundreds of storage items in his home, caught fire.
An inquest heard crews from Avon Fire and Rescue service forced entry into the Carolina House flat home in Bristol by using a sledge hammer.
Inside they found the lounge littered with amps stacked as high as the ceiling, volumes of records, book cases and clothes strewn across the bedroom floors.
He was found slumped in the bath tub where officials believed he stumbled as the fire raged.
Around 40 fire-fighters battled the flames after receiving 47 calls from concerned residents on September 6 201, who saw thick smoke billowing from the high-rise.
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Avon Fire and Rescue Service station manager and fire investigator, Johnathan Brown, told the hearing in Bristol: "Crew saw smoke emanating from the building on route.
"Smoke and flames were coming from the balcony area.
"They used a sledge hammer to break two locks to gain access.
"There was a significant amount of smoke and had zero visibility at that stage.
"The hallway was quite constricted. Quite a narrow route, only enough for one person to walk through at a time.
"The area of origin (of the fire) was the lounge."
The inquest was told Robert was repeatedly told not to burn fires in his seventh floor flat but chose to ignore the warnings.
It is believed for more than a year prior to his death, 'Bob' was known to be lighting BBQ fires on his balcony and using tea lights in his two-bedroom flat.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service were called to the property no less than four times with the last call out being just three and a half months before his death on May 27.
Crane had run up an electricity bill of £90.54 and for the past 68 weeks leading up to his death, used a gas fuelled BBQ to keep warm.
In May 2014, safe guarding measures were taken by Bristol City Council and he was issued with an injunction to stop him using his BBQ on his balcony.
Divorced Crane, who was claiming benefits, had a long history of mental illness and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1985.
He had been on a regular prescription of lithium to control the illness until 2012 when he stopped taking his medication.
His delusional behaviour would spiral out of control when in 'mania' and went through bouts of irrational optimism, according to his only child Alexander.
In a statement read out on day one of the inquest at Avon Coroner's Court in Flax Bourton, Somerset, Alexander described his father as am 'exceptional, loving and attentive' man.
He added: "He ran a business selling music equipment, began to do well and was working with a number of successful bands, but went into voluntary liquidation.
"The first time I became fully aware (of his disorder) was in 1995 when I was 13-years old.
"He seemed that he was on top of the world.
"Following a period of stability, he then started to become very optimistic about everything.
"Trying to get his business up and running again, putting together increasingly outlandish business plans, saying he would make £1m in a year or two.
"For as long as I can remember he smoked cannabis, during the period of 'mania' he would use cocaine.
"As my father's mania progressed he would start believing he had supernatural powers.
"By 2012 it was clear my dad as very unwell."
Alexander said he cut contact with his father following a heated argument in July 2012 after a 'authoritarian rant' turned ugly.
The inquest continues.
