Two men who were found dead in a blazing flat may have decided to kill themselves after being accused of indecent assault.

Garfield Haveron, 50, and Murray Kemp, 37, were arrested on Sunday and charged with indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl.

Police today said they have not ruled out the possibility the pair deliberately started the fire at Vernon Corner in a gruesome suicide pact.

The men were due to appear before Chelmsford magistrates tomorrow. Mr Haveron was also charged with possessing cannabis.

Firefighters from Ingatestone and Billericay had to break down the door of the flat. They found the two bodies in the blackened kitchen.

Jack Imrie, Basildon fire station officer, said: "Two firefighters broke into the house. It was difficult to get the doors open but that is not that unusual.

"The fire seems to have started in the living area and we are not looking for a third party."

Clive Williams, a firefighter from Ingatestone, was taken to Broomfield Hospital with a slight back injury following the incident.

Det Supt Kevin Macey, who is leading the police investigation, said: "We are trying to find out why the fire occurred. One of the lines of inquiry is that the two men were in some sort of suicide agreement."

A post mortem investigation was due to be carried out on the victims today.

Police said Mr Haveron lived at the flat where the fire broke out, and Mr Kemp lived next door.

A spokeswoman added: "Mr Kemp has been described as the unofficial carer of Mr Haveron.

"Mr Haveron has been described as virtually bed-ridden and is believed to have had a heart condition."

Mr Kemp and Mr Haveron had earnt themselves a reputation in the neighbourhood for anti-social behaviour.

Neighbourhood watch organiser, Rose Sobanji, of Vernon Corner, said the pair would have wild parties and make a lot of noise.

She said: "They would keep me up with their shouting and banging - they didn't like the fact that I was trying to make this a better place to live."

On one occasion last November, Mr Kemp is said to have thrown all his furniture down a stairwell, before jumping out of a first floor window.

Police and fire investigations are continuing.

Investigation - fire victims had been charged with indecent assault

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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