The Church of England Vicar Who Burned Himself to Ashes While Being Investigated for Sex Offences

A vicar of the Church of England has burned himself to death whilst he changed into being investigated for committing s*x offences.

Rev Martyn Neale

A Church of England vicar incinerated himself with a can of petrol at the same time as being investigated for historic sex offences, an inquest heard these days.

The Rev Martyn Neale, 60, a member of the General Synod, changed into determined lifeless at his rectory inside the village of Hawley, Hampshire, by means of his sister Janis Chandler on July 25.

His body became observed just 8 days after he became initially arrested through the Metropolitan Police concerning historic sexual offences devoted two decades ago.

North East Hampshire Coroner Andrew Bradley today stated the allegations towards Mr Neale had 'truely weighed on him' irrespective of whether they were real or now not.

A autopsy located his body changed into protected in 'near-general third diploma burns and blackening via soot'. He could best be diagnosed via dental information.

The inquest heard Ms Chandler had organized the previous night for Mr Neale to select her up so they could spend the day with their mother and father.

After trying to touch him throughout the day, she went to find her brother at Hawley Vicarage at around 4pm.

She said: 'I even have a key, so I permit myself in once you have no answer on the doorbell.

'I went in. He wasn't there so I had a go searching. His cars have been parked out of doors. I noticed that the back door become unlocked as the chain was dangling.

'I went into the lawn and, as I grew to become proper, I noticed the petrol can.

'I walked further and I simply noticed some thing on the ground that changed into burned. I became no longer sure at the beginning, but I realised it became a body once I were given closer.

'I ought to see it turned into a frame due to the fact there has been a face and it turned into face down.'

Ms Chandler contacted the police who attended the scene.

She said her brother might 'assist anyone' and that they have been 'a very near family', seeing each other almost every day.

Friends defined Father Neale as a 'quietly-spoken but worrying' priest who had worked because the vicar for Hawley, in the Diocese of Guildford, for 20 years.

Father Neale became a member of the Church's 'parliament', the General Synod, earlier this year and lately attended his first meeting in York. A prominent traditionalist, he became a council member of the strain organization Forward in Faith, which opposes women clergymen.

Detective Constable Matt Deery, of Basingstoke CID, informed the inquest at Basingstoke Coroner's Court that Mr Neale become arrested and interviewed on July 17 in connection with historical sexual offences.

DC Deery said Mr Neale was launched without price on unconditional bail following the interview, but said there was 'an ongoing research' nonetheless underway.

Ms Chandler stated her brother 'had now not spoken' approximately the allegations towards him but stated she knew he were suspended with the aid of the Church.

Coroner Mr Bradley stated Mr Neale 'successfully incinerated himself' in his garden in opposition to the backdrop of alleged s*xual offences.

He added: 'I do not and can't look at those aside from as allegations made. The relevance of them is that they've been made.'

Mr Bradley, recording a end of suicide, brought Mr Neale died due to 'enormous 1/3 degree burns'.

He said: 'Whether the allegations are real or false is not a matter for me, however they had been made and that they really weighed on him.

'It is a honest be counted, however of a tortured soul.

'He was underneath research for historical sexual offences. I simply notice this as a relevant issue.

'The verdict I input is that he killed himself.

'Please accept my sympathy. It is a matter of such disappointment. As a good deal as one can also sensationalise it, that is a personal loss