A demolitions engineer has died in a fire started when he attempted to make a batch of highly addictive Crystal Meth, a court has heard.
Daniel Coleman, 42, originally from Essex, died on Valentine’s Day this year, and had been employed by Camden Council contractors to manage the demolition of Aspen House, on the Maitland Park estate, near Chalk Farm.
The building was being replaced under the council’s Community Investment Programme, to make way for a 119 new home development, and Mr Coleman had been "squatting" in the empty block of flats, as well as previous work sites, before his death.
Coroner Mary Hassell said she believed his death was accidental and was related to "ongoing" drugs issues. She said: “I am satisfied he caused the fire inadvertently. I heard evidence that Crystal Methamphetamine been made there using a process called ‘Shake and Bake’.
“This is known to be dangerous and volatile, and can cause sudden explosions. There are no other feasible explanations."
Security guards Ibraham Yahya and Jerry Thompson gave evidence at the inquest, and said they never saw Mr Coleman going in and out of the building at odd times, and did not think he could have made a home inside without being spotted.
However, Ms Hassell said: “I have heard evidence that points in a different direction.
"The London Fire Brigade found a makeshift bed and mattress and a rail of clothing in the flat. Daniel was known to live on the sites he worked on.”
A security guard's log book noted that at 3am one morning in the days before his death, Mr Coleman was seen leaving the block carrying a number of unspecified items.
Yet Camden’s Safer Homes officer Dominic Johnson told the inquest at St Pancras Coroner's Court that no concerns were ever raised over his work or conduct, and he was not deemed to be high risk.
Witness John Devlin, who lives opposite Aspen House, told police he had seen a light burning in the flat on numerous occasions. He added he had seen people on stairwells at night, clutching a torch.
Mr Coleman’s friend Conal McCleery recalled him as a highly intelligent, but troubled man.
He added: “Sometimes you’d see him walking around talking to himself. He was earning good money but spending huge amounts. I heard he spent £150,000 in two years.
"He was well paid, but he threw it away. I then became aware that Dan was using Crystal Meth.”
Another friend, and former colleague Elias Michallides, said Mr Coleman had been known to sleep where he worked and had invited him to visit Aspen House, sending photos of where he was staying.
On a previous job, Mr Michallides said, he suspected Mr Coleman had been living in a porters' room.
He recalled an occasion when he had appeared "dishevelled" and with "singed eyebrows", saying he had been "blown up" by a "gas leak".
But he said he saw no evidence this had been due to "an accident while he was making crystal meth" when asked by the coroner.