A father who lost his partner and two young children in a devastating house fire in Cambridge has told an inquest that the electric bicycle battery linked to the blaze had undergone modifications after repeatedly developing faults.
Scott Peden, who survived the June 30, 2023, tragedy but spent a month in a coma, described how a second-hand battery fitted to his electric bicycle had been altered before the fire destroyed his family home.
His partner, Gemma Germeney, 31, and their children, eight-year-old Lilly Peden and four-year-old Oliver Peden, died in the blaze, which investigators previously linked to an electric bicycle being charged inside the property.
The new evidence emerged during a two-day inquest at Huntingdon Coroner’s Court, where questions surrounding the battery’s condition, repair history and potential safety risks were examined.
Second-Hand E-Bike Battery Developed Problems After Original Was Stolen
The court heard that Mr Peden originally purchased his electric bicycle through Facebook for approximately £900.
He said the bicycle was in perfect working condition when he acquired it and that he depended on it for travelling to work.
However, the original battery was subsequently stolen, leaving him unable to use the bicycle without obtaining a replacement.
Because he could not afford a new battery, he purchased a second-hand alternative.
Problems reportedly emerged when the replacement battery began cutting out during use, prompting him to seek assistance from a repair technician.
The difficulties eventually led to modifications that became a central issue during the inquest.
Repair Technician Warned Battery Was Too Powerful for Bicycle
Mr Peden told the court that he approached repairman Stoil Severinov after experiencing repeated problems with the replacement battery.
According to his evidence, the technician informed him that the battery was too powerful for the electric bicycle.
Mr Severinov reportedly offered to replace a fuse for £30 in an attempt to resolve the problem.
However, the battery continued to cut out even after the work had been carried out.
Mr Peden subsequently returned to the technician’s workshop, where he was advised that the battery needed to be replaced entirely.
The father explained that he was unable to afford another replacement immediately and intended to wait until receiving his wages.
Technician Allegedly Offered to Bypass Faulty Battery Cells
During the hearing, Mr Peden described how the repair technician proposed an alternative arrangement while he waited to purchase another battery.
According to his account, Mr Severinov offered to bypass cells within the existing battery pack.
The court heard that this modification involved routing electrical current around a weak cell so that the affected component remained isolated from the battery’s active circuit.
Such alterations can raise significant safety concerns in lithium-ion battery systems, particularly where the original electrical configuration and protective mechanisms are changed.
Mr Peden said he had intended to return to purchase a replacement battery but never had the opportunity before the fatal fire occurred.
The inquest is examining the circumstances surrounding the battery and the tragedy, and the evidence presented does not by itself establish criminal responsibility.
Father Recalls Loud Explosion Before Fire Destroyed Family Home
Giving evidence about the night of the fire, Mr Peden recalled that nothing appeared unusual before he and his children went to sleep.
He said he had put Lilly and Oliver to bed before retiring himself because he needed to wake early for work.
The family’s ordinary evening was suddenly interrupted by an enormous noise that shook the property.
Mr Peden compared the sound to a heavy bowling ball being dropped onto a wooden floor beside someone lying down.
The explosion-like noise was followed by the rapidly developing fire that engulfed the house.
The blaze claimed the lives of Gemma and both children, while Mr Peden sustained serious injuries that left him unconscious in hospital for approximately one month.
Thirty Firefighters Responded as Flames Engulfed Cambridge Property
Emergency services were called to the Cambridge home at approximately 1am on June 30, 2023.
Around 30 firefighters from six crews attended the scene as they attempted to bring the fire under control.
Despite their efforts, the property suffered catastrophic damage.
Photographs taken after the incident showed heavily blackened walls, shattered windows and extensive destruction caused by intense heat and smoke.
Gemma died at the scene, while the fire also claimed the lives of the couple’s two young children.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service subsequently identified a charging electric bicycle as the most probable cause of the blaze.
The inquest is considering further evidence about the circumstances leading to the fire.
Battery Repairman Questioned by Product Safety Investigators
The court also heard that Mr Severinov had been interviewed under caution by the Office for Product Safety and Standards in connection with the incident.
However, no final decision had been made on whether criminal proceedings would be brought against him.
Miles Bennett, representing Mr Peden, referred to statements made by the technician during the regulatory investigation.
According to the lawyer, Mr Severinov had told investigators that he did not supply lithium-ion batteries for electric bicycles.
Addressing the court with assistance from a Turkish interpreter, the technician maintained that he did not personally sell batteries.
He explained that he had instead been attempting to tell Mr Peden that he could obtain a replacement battery for him.
The evidence highlighted differing accounts concerning the repair arrangements and the circumstances in which a replacement battery was discussed.
Grieving Father Describes Life After Losing His Entire Family
The emotional impact of the tragedy was brought into focus through a personal statement prepared by Mr Peden and read on his behalf at the beginning of the hearing.
He described the continuing pain of remembering the night that claimed the lives of the people closest to him.
“I live every day with tragic memory of that night and the huge loss of the family I loved and lived for,” the statement said.
The court also heard a tribute from Gemma’s mother, who remembered her daughter and grandchildren as a source of happiness and warmth.
She described them as “sunshine on a cold dark night” and said their deaths had left the family broken beyond repair.
The statements illustrated the lasting emotional consequences of a fire that destroyed an entire household within hours.
Father Calls for Ban on Lithium Batteries Used in E-Bikes and E-Scooters
Since recovering from his injuries, Mr Peden has become an outspoken campaigner for stronger restrictions on lithium-ion batteries used in electric bicycles and scooters.
He has called for a complete ban on the sale of such batteries, arguing that existing regulations do not adequately protect consumers from potentially catastrophic incidents.
Speaking publicly in 2024, he explained that he had been unaware of the dangers associated with lithium-ion batteries before the fire.
He also called for urgent regulatory changes to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.
Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electric bicycles, scooters and other rechargeable devices. Although properly manufactured and maintained batteries can be used safely, damaged, incompatible or improperly modified battery packs can create serious fire hazards.
Battery failures can sometimes trigger thermal runaway, a process in which rapidly increasing internal temperatures cause cells to release heat and potentially ignite neighbouring components.
Inquest Continues Into Fatal Fire and Battery Safety Concerns
The proceedings at Huntingdon Coroner’s Court are continuing as evidence is examined concerning the electric bicycle, its replacement battery and the modifications reportedly made before the fire.
The hearing is expected to help establish the circumstances surrounding Gemma Germeney’s death and clarify the sequence of events leading to the tragedy.
Questions about the battery’s compatibility, the repair work and the safety implications of bypassing cells remain central to the evidence presented.
The case has also renewed attention on the dangers associated with faulty or modified rechargeable batteries, particularly when electric bicycles are stored or charged inside residential properties.
For Mr Peden, the legal proceedings represent another painful examination of the night he lost his partner and children, while his campaign for tighter battery regulations continues in the hope of preventing similar deaths.
