A MAN who died after breaking in to a fashion millionaire's home while armed with a baseball bat was involved in a “violent struggle” with the owner and his gardener, an inquest heard.

Ricci Gallagher, 46, smashed a window to get into the farmhouse of Richard Glanville, in Sudburys Farm Road, Little Burstead, on July 31 last year.

Mr Glanville, 60, a former executive at a company that owned high street shops Oasis, Warehouse and Coast, and his Gardner Paul Pumfrett, 54, fought with Mr Gallagher, who is believed to have fallen down some stairs.

Both men were arrested as part of a murder investigation when he died six days later from head injuries at the Royal London Hospital.

Det Sup Marina Ericson told a hearing at Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford Mr Glanville and Mr Pumfrett got into a "tussle" with Mr Gallagher.

The men were later released without charge owing to insufficient evidence.

Echo:

Police were initially alerted to the incident when Mr Gallagher dialled 999, with operators calling him back several times as he did not engage with them.

He eventually requested the fire service as his wooden house in Blind Lane, Little Burstead, was alight. He claimed travellers had poured petrol on his roof but the inquest heard it was not known how the fire started.

Ms Ericson said Mr Glanville and his gardener were outside the farmhouse when Mr Gallagher approached the property with a baseball bat and in an "agitated state".

She said Mr Gallagher then ran, jumped an electric fence, smashed the bottom pane of glass in a patio door and entered the property.

Mr Glanville and his gardener chased him upstairs and a “violent struggle” ensued.

Ms Ericson said it was accepted that the baseball bat was used but questions remained over the level of force used and whether Mr Gallagher had fallen down the solid oak stairs.

She said: “They both feared for their own lives and wanted to protect their property."

She said Mr Glanville thought Mr Gallagher "might be there to burgle or steal items and in law there's an element of self-defence".

She added: "We've never really been able to understand why Mr Gallagher was in the state he was."

Toxicology tests on Mr Gallagher showed evidence of recent cocaine use.

Senior coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded an open verdict, stating there was insufficient evidence to conclude unlawful killing or accidental death.

Mr Gallagher's widow, Linda, attended Wednesday's inquest and made no comment as she left.

Last year, she asked the Crown Prosecution Service to consider the case again under the victim's right of review but the CPS said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.