Father killed himself and his daughter, 10, after setting his home on fire, ...

Father killed himself and his daughter, 10, after setting his home on fire, ...
Father killed himself and his daughter, 10, after setting his home on fire, ...

A father killed himself and his 10-year-old daughter by setting his home on fire and locking them both in the bathroom following years of bullying, an inquest has heard.

Two weeks after Christmas in the early hours of January 25 last year, firefighters forced their way into 47-year-old Garry Bolton's bathroom after a neighbour spotted smoke coming from his bedroom window, Hull Coroner's Court heard.   

Mr Bolton, from East Yorkshire, was said to be mocked for years by bullies who told him he looked like disfigured giant Sloth in the TV show.

The former Territorial Army soldier told a friend that he was given the cruel name because of the shape of his head.

But his daughter Paige was also referred to as 'Sloth' or 'the retard's daughter' by classmates and parents, the inquest heard.

Mr Bolton moved his daughter from school to school because he was so 'paranoid' about the constant jibes, it was said. 

He was on the books of a number of mental health agencies who reported he was showing signs of improvement - but still struggled with the name calling.  

Garry Bolton (pictured above), 47, from East Yorkshire, was said to be mocked for years by bullies who told him he looked like disfigured giant Sloth in the TV show

Garry Bolton (pictured above), 47, from East Yorkshire, was said to be mocked for years by bullies who told him he looked like disfigured giant Sloth in the TV show

His daughter Paige (left), aged 10, died from the effects of smoke and been overcome within minutes of the fire starting, the inquest heard

His daughter Paige (left), aged 10, died from the effects of smoke and been overcome within minutes of the fire starting, the inquest heard 

Next-door neighbour Andrew Harding said he could hear the pair talking in the bathroom through the wall at around 5am.

He told the court: 'With hindsight, I can recall they were coughing while they were talking.

'I heard Paige talk and cough and then Garry talk and cough.' 

Mr Harding said that, when he went downstairs at 5.10am, he smelled burning, adding: 'Unfortunately, I was ironing on Friday night to go away for the weekend and the iron shorted out. 

'I thought I was still smelling burning from the fire the previous night.'

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