The professor has been cleared of any wrongdoing as an inquest ruled that the car thief died due to an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, linked to drug use prior to an intense police chase06:21, 11 Jun 2026A professor who put a suspected car thief in a headlock as he attempted to stop him driving away has been cleared of any wrongdoing as an inquest rules his death as accidental.‌Daniel Smith, 35, died due to suffering a cardiac arrest after a chaotic chain of events that started with a police chase in the countryside in Devon.‌An inquest heard Smith was fleeing from four police officers attempting to arrest him on suspicion of an unrelated burglary as he ran through gardens in Axminster, Devon, on a morning in July 2022.‌Smith leapt over walls and forced his way through barbed wire and hedges, leaving him in just his shorts and trainers.On entering the garden of an elderly couple he attempted to steal their Volvo to escape, however was unable to drive as they keys were not inside.He then ran to a nearby home belonging to Geoff Thame, where he grabbed keys from an unlocked annex and climbed into a a silver Vauxhall Astra at around 10.30am.‌The vehicle belonged to Geoff's son, Dr Charlie Thame, a philosophy professor who works in Thailand.Thame headed for the car and got into the passenger seat, with his legs remaining outside the vehicle as Smith reversed.‌Moments later, the Astra crashed into a gatepost.Dr Thame described Smith, who was taller and larger than him, as being like a 'trapped wild animal'.He told the court Smith attempted to punch him and grab his testicles.‌He also claimed Smith repeatedly reached towards his waistband, leading him to fear he was trying to reach for a knife.The professor added that he attempted to drag the suspected thief from the car, punching him on the nose before his arm slipped beneath Smith's armpit and into a headlock.He said Smith suddenly stopped struggling and a neighbour screamed.‌Dr Thame said: "The neighbour said the man was unconscious. I released him immediately."It was concluded by senior Devon coroner Philip Spinney that Smith's death had been accidental.It was found that Smith died due to an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest linked to acute behavioural disturbance and cocaine use, with significant physical exertion and restraint contributing more than minimally to his death.‌Dr Thame's actions were praised as courageous and carried out in self-defence to protect himself, his family and the community.The coroner added that Dr Thame may have restrained Smith for "no longer than one minute and 45 seconds and probably a shorter period", adding: "He released him as soon as he realised he was unconscious."‌The post-mortem evidence showed no excessive force had been used by Dr Thame.Smith had taken a combination of drugs, including cocaine and ketamine, before the incident unfolded, the inquest heard.Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffery told the hearing that the neck hold had "more than minimally contributed to the cardiac arrest occurring when it did".‌She said the drugs Smith had consumed caused both physiological and behavioural effects, that led to him to try to steal the vehicle.Dr Thame disputed the suggestion that he had restrained Smith for an excessive period, insisting it was "not an excessive length of time".Unlawful killing was ruled out by Mr Spinney.‌He said Dr Thame had acted in self-defence and added: 'There is no criticism of Charlie Thame.'Smith was pulled out the Astra by those at the scene and they carried out chest compressions.Dr Thame said he suspected Smith had taken drugs because of his appearance.‌He also strongly denied claims that he had placed his knee on Smith's neck.He told the coroner: "At no point did I have my knee on his neck, that is a complete misrepresentation and fabrication of what transpired."He also disputed that he repeatedly punched Smith.‌He said he feared Smith was about to drive towards his father, leaving him at risk of being killed or seriously injured.He said: "If I had not done what I did, my father would not be sitting here today. My actions were entirely justifiable at the time and in hindsight."He said there had been a "gradual escalation" in the force used to stop Smith and he now has to "deal with the consequences of that".‌His father Geoff Thame described the events as "a bit surreal".He told Spinney: "He looked wild, very agitated, wide-eyed and frothing at the mouth. He was bouncing like a kangaroo. He was not cool, calm and collected, put it like that."He added that nobody knew whether he was carrying a knife.‌Geoff recalled hearing his son shout at Smith to "get out of my f***ing car" as he attempted to get the keys.He said to the court that he returned to his house to collect a gun from a cabinet, intending to use it as a threat, but by the time he came back, Smith was unconscious.Dr Thame and neighbour Deborah Day then attempted CPR after discovering Smith was not breathing.‌Geoff said: "He was out cold. Charlie said, 'I hope he is alright, I hope he is alright.'Mrs Day previously claimed in a statement that Dr Thame put his knee on Smith's neck, although Geoff disputed this account, saying his son's feet were still outside the car.Mrs Day said that Dr Thame put Smith in a headlock, "but did not intend to kill the man", adding that his actions may have saved her own life.‌The inquest heard that the incident began when officers from Avon and Somerset Police travelled to the Devon-Dorset border to arrest Smith in connection with a burglary in Yeovil, Somerset, where he lived.Smith was located at the Harvest Energy service station in Axminster and blocked his car in with two vehicles.He then escaped on foot, jumping over a wall and sparking the dramatic pursuit that ended in tragedy.Article continues belowDetective Constable Sharon Moore, of Devon and Cornwall Police, told the coroner: "Dr Thame was interviewed while in custody and released. A decision was made later that no further action would be taken against Dr Thame whatsoever."