Four children aged 3, 4, 6 and 8 were killed in a house fire after parents ‘fell asleep while smoking in bed’

Four children aged between three and eight have lost their lives in a fire which authorities believe started when their parents fell asleep “smoking in bed”.

Four children between the ages of three and eight have tragically lost their lives in a fire at their family home, after their parents claim to have fallen asleep “while smoking in bed”.

Four children were killed in a devastating fire when their parents fell asleep after smoking in bed – despite being warned by social services.

Riley Holt, eight, and siblings Keegan, Tilly and Olly Unitt, aged six, four and three, died when a blaze broke out at their family home in Stafford, Staffs, in February last year.

Natalie Unitt, 26, and her partner Chris Moulton, 30, were held by police on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence.

But in August the Crown Prosecution Service announced it was to take no further action.

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(From left to right) Keegan, Tilly, Olly and Riley died in the blaze in February last year. Picture: Supplied

An inquest today found the children died from “fumes from fire caused by [an] unextinguished cigarette” on bedding in the parent‘s bedroom.

The hearing in Stafford was told that the parents had previously been warned about smoking indoors by social workers.

Both parents denied the blaze started in the bedroom at the house.

But a police officer and a fire investigator said they believed that the blaze “was caused by carelessness with cigarettes” in the bedroom.

Coroner Andrew Haigh said: “Mrs Unitt had been advised not to smoke in the property but there is substantial evidence of them continuing to do so.

“It’s understandable they tried to play down the significance of this bearing in mind what has happened.

“Mr Moulton suggested that the fire may have been caused where the boiler is on the landing on the property. I do not accept that. I have heard the expert evidence and Mr Richards has clearly indicated why the boiler is not the cause of this fire.

“He has properly explained his reasons for his decision as to the cause of the fire. That was that the fire started as a result of a cigarette on the bedding in the main bedroom.”

Mum Natalie Karen Unitt and her partner Chris Moulton were first held by police on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence. Picture: Supplied

The fire ripped through the family’s terraced property just after 2.40am on February 2 last year.

Mr Moulton leapt from the first-floor window with their youngest child, then two. Ms Unitt escaped via the front door.

Both parents, who are still together, said they could not remember the aftermath of the blaze.

But Mr Moulton, who suffered substantial burns, believed the fire started on the landing near a boiler.

Lee Richards, a fire officer with West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service, said there was no evidence that an electrical fault or gas supply fault triggered the blaze.

Firefighters investigated the home following the fire on February 6. Picture: Getty Images

Mr Richards said the accounts of the parents “was inconsistent with each others” and that on his “interpretation of the scene, the fire started in their bedroom”.

He said: “The fire, in my opinion, developed within the bedroom. As the fire developed, the room went into full flashover, where everything within the room becomes involved in fire.

“Having the windows open aided ventilation to the fire and allowed the fire to grow greatly and spread outside the compartment.”

Mr Richards said his investigations found a “significant number of carelessly discarded cigarettes” inside and outside the house.

He said there was “in excess of 100 cigarettes” found outside a door to the garden and “discarded butts below the lounge window, bedroom window and within the undergrowth of the garden.”

Damage done to the home during the tragic blaze. Picture: Getty Images.

Mr Richards added: “The actions of Chris and Natalie remain a subject of conjecture.”

All the four children died from smoke and fume inhalation in the fire.

Detective Inspector Alan Lyford, of Staffordshire Police, who has led the investigation, told the inquest the parents had previously been given advice “about not smoking within the home address by social workers”.

He said he believed Mr Moulton moved a burning duvet from the bedroom to the landing in a bid to extinguish it.

He said: “Having worked with Mr Richards, I concur with him in that we believe the fire started within the bedroom.

“The hypothesis is that a duvet was moved outside the room which then further set alight, causing Christopher not to be able to leave by the stairs and get access to his children.

“It stopped Natalie getting back upstairs and that‘s why she had to leave via downstairs.”

Dozens of toys were left by neighbours in tribute of the four kids who lost their lives. Picture: Getty Images

‘STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT IT NOW’

Ms Unitt said she recalled smoking in bed and had fallen asleep before becoming aware of the fire.

Asked how she became aware of the blaze, she said: “I had heaviness on my chest.

“It was on the landing. I still have nightmares about it now.”

She denied her bedding had been set alight or moving the couple’s duvet into the landing

She said she couldn’t remember the aftermath of the blaze because of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mr Moulton said he had gone to sleep after smoking in bed but was woken by the blaze.

Asked by the coroner where the fire was, he said: “It was on the landing.”

He said he could not rescue his children because the “fire was too intense”.

The Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against the couple, the inquest heard.

DI Lyford added: “In December of last year, we submitted an advice file to them.

“This was considered by CPS and they considered several offences and ultimately deemed there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Natalie or Christopher in relation to this matter.”

This article originally appeared on the Sun and was reproduced here with permission