The death of a judge killed when his garden shed was engulfed in flames minutes after he told his wife he was leaving her, will remain a mystery after a second inquest found the evidence surrounding his death was inconclusive.

Andrew Chubb, 58, died in 2001 when his shed exploded at his Somerset farmhouse 90 minutes after he told his wife Jennifer, 60, that he wanted a divorce.

His body was burnt to such an extent in the fire that his remains were unrecognisable, and the pathologist who examined it was unable to determine exactly how he died. Vital evidence was destroyed when the shed was bulldozed within 24 hours of the fire.

Mrs Chubb, his wife of 34 years, went on to inherit her husband’s million pound estate, and also benefited from a combined £100,000 pay-out on two life insurance policies.

Mr Chubb had been having a two-year affair with legal secretary Kerry Sparrow. Ms Sparrow spent five years campaigning for a second inquest into his death.

East Somerset coroner Sheriff Payne recorded a narrative verdict this morning, in which he found there was not enough evidence to prove whether it had been an accident or suicide. He said that he was satisfied there was “no evidence of any third party involvement in his death.”

“It has not been possible to determine whether he was disabled from escaping by the effects of the products of combustion, or any other means,” My Payne said.

“Both the means and the cause of his death remain unascertained. Evidence that might indicate that he had expressed thoughts of harming himself fall far below proof beyond doubt that is the standard request for the conclusion that he deliberately took his own life.”

The coroner found that it was likely the fire was caused by the ignition of petrol vapour, possibly from a ride-on lawnmower which was kept in the shed. But he said: “It has not been possible to establish how the vapour arose nor the source of ignition.”

The five-day inquest, held at the Glastonbury Town Hall, was the second into Mr Chubb’s death and was ordered after fresh evidence cast doubt on the original verdict. The first inquest was held in 2001 and found that Mr Chubb had died by accidental death.

Miss Sparrow, who stormed out of this week’s inquest at one point, claimed that she did not believe the judge “died accidentally or by his own hand.”

Yesterday she denied having blackmailed Mr Chubb after claims she received payments of up to £200 for not going to the press about their affair.

Mrs Chubb, who has since moved to Australia and refused to give evidence at the second inquest, was arrested on suspicion of murder and perjury a year after her husband’s death.

No charges were ever brought against her, however, and the coroner said it would have been virtually impossible for her to “disable” him and then set fire to the shed.

After the verdict this morning a police spokesman said that there was “no chance” the inquiry would be reopened.

In a statement police said: “Avon and Somerset Police have long accepted that there were some shortcomings with the initial investigation into the death of Judge Andrew Chubb, which is why the case was subsequently re-investigated. Any lessons learned have been implemented.

“The force has fully co-operated with this and the original inquest hearing and supplied all the evidence we have from all investigations.

“As an organisation, we feel that the tragic death of Judge Chubb has been examined on a number of occasions and that a line must now be drawn. There are no plans to examine this case again in the future.”

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