A wealthy finance director who died in a house fire earlier this year was the "author of his own destruction", an inquest has heard.

Adriano Bussandri, 51, was killed after a fire raged through his £1.8m home in Holroyd Road, Putney, on February 8.

Police initially launched a murder investigation because Mr Bussandri had suffered a number of injuries which were deemed suspicious.

But, following an investigation by police and the fire brigade, it was established the businessman's wounds were either self-inflicted or caused by a collapsed roof.

The blaze was described by fire investigator Matthew Bradshaw as "severe", so much so that the entire structure of the house was compromised.

Mr Bradshaw said there were several possible sources for the fire, including a portable heater, evidence of candles and several plug extensions but none of these were conclusive.

The former oil executive's body was found underneath a radiator and a large section of the roof in the loft, which had been converted.

His charred remains were so badly burned he had to be identified by his dental records.

Medical evidence suggested Mr Bussandri had taken a number of drugs prior to his death including nitrus oxide, amyl nitrate, psychedelic compound DMT and a relatively unknown "designer drug" called methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MDPV, which has a similar effect to amphetamine.

Giving evidence Detective Sergeant Richard Reynolds, the investigating officer, said MDPV had only been classified as a Class B drug in February 2010.

DS Reynolds also said it was possible Mr Bussandri had imported his own drugs, for his own use, because of how difficult those particular narcotics are to buy.

Two sharp items, a screwdriver and a letter opener, were found near Mr Bussandri's body and had been used by him to self-harm.

The father-of-two's family confirmed Mr Bussandri's battle with drugs began after he was involved in a life-threatening car crash in 2002, while driving his beloved Lamborghini, which left him with a brain haemorrhage.

His GP, Dr Alison Joy, said he had been admitted to The Priory in Roehampton twice in an attempt to quell his addiction and had a history of depression.

Coroner Dr William Dolman, sitting at Westminster Coroner's Court on Thursday, said: "It was an intense fire, causing immense damage.

"The seat of the fire was in the loft conversion and there were several possible sources but no single conclusive factor.

"Having heard all the evidence, I am going to record the cause of death as inhalation of fire fumes, but contributing to the death was MDPV toxicity.

"I conclude that it was an accident."

 

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