AN 81-YEAR-OLD woman who died in a house fire probably dropped a lit cigarette on her bed, a coroner ruled yesterday.

Evelyn White died at her home in Samphire Road, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, on December 30 last year – and two days later criminals Terry Peacock and Paul Worman burgled the damaged property and stole alcohol and medication.

An inquest at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court yesterday heard Mrs White, who had lived in the terraced house for nearly 45 years, probably died from a heart attack brought on by injuries she was suffering during the fire.

Pathologist Dr Olaf Biedrzycki said Mrs White was found with 153 milligrammes of alcohol in 100ml of blood, just under twice the legal drink-drive limit.

He said her existing heart disease was so advanced she could have suffered a fatal attack at any time.

He added: “Somehow the fire has started, and she has suffered burns which would lead to a very severe degree of shock.

“That degree of shock, because of her very bad heart disease, has led her to die very quickly.”

Mrs White’s 79-year-old husband Lucas said the couple had separate bedrooms and he was prevented from reaching his wife because of thick smoke.

He said she used to smoke up to 20 cigarettes a day.

When asked if Mrs White would smoke in bed, her son Clive said: “Now and again, I had suspicions.

“She was told not to but you can’t keep an eye on them 24 hours (a day).”

Fire investigator David Bray said the fire was confined to the bed and its surrounding area and took hold quickly.

He said the only conclusion investigators had been able to draw was that she was smoking in bed and the cigarette set fire to the bedclothes.

The inquest heard the house had two working fire alarms downstairs but none upstairs. Mr Bray stressed the importance of having smoke detectors on all floors.

Coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Speaking at the time of the incident, Mr White said of his mother: “She had a nickname, ‘Mamma’, because she was everyone’s mother.

“It was always an open house to everyone, the door was always open and she’d do anything for anybody.”

Peacock, 37, and Worman, 34, were jailed for three years each at Oxford Crown Court in September.

tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk