A COUPLE have been found dead after the husband failed to attend court on charges of making and possessing indecent images of children.
Robert and Ellen Griffiths, both aged 36, were discovered at their home in Shawbury Avenue, Kingsway, last Thursday when police forced their way into the house.
Their deaths are not being treated as suspicious.
Two days before they were found, a warrant had been issued for Mr Griffiths' arrest when he failed to attend Gloucester Crown Court to be sentenced.
He had pleaded guilty at an earlier magistrates' court hearing to 15 charges of making indecent images of children and three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals.
A Gloucestershire police spokesman said: "Robert Griffiths, aged 36, failed to appear at crown court on July 15 in connection with the offence of making indecent photographs.
"Police were called to an address in Shawbury Avenue, Kingsway, on the evening of July 16 where a man and a woman were found dead.
"Their deaths were confirmed by paramedics shortly after midnight. Police are not treating this as suspicious."
An inquest was opened by Gloucestershire coroner Katy Skerrett yesterday and adjourned until January 25 next year.
Coroner's officer Andy Nicol said: "On July 17, concern was raised by Mrs Griffiths' family members that they had not heard from their daughter or her husband.
"They contacted the police and officers went to the property and forced entry."
He said Mr and Mrs Griffiths were found in the loft space and there were no suspicious circumstances.
"Postmortem examinations have been carried out and the cause of death in both cases is vasovagal inhibition due to hanging," he said.
He said the bodies of the couple had been identified by their respective fathers.
Shocked neighbours of the couple said they had no idea that Mr Griffiths was due in court.
The couple were described as 'quiet and unassuming' by nearby residents who said they saw them only rarely.
"There were a lot of police cars and ambulances here last Thursday night about midnight and we wondered what was going on," said one neighbour. "It's all very distressing."
Another neighbour Chris Thomas said: "I didn't hear anything about it and it's quite a family-oriented area, so it's quite surprising what you find on your doorstep and this is shocking."
A mother who lives nearby, who did not want to be named, added: "It's very concerning that it can happen in this street and we didn't know about it. The fact he could skip bail in a street where children play quite frequently outside is very concerning. I think we should have known more about somebody of that nature living around here."
Marcin Serek said: "We have got very good neighbours but I'm not familiar with this case – but it's very sad."
