dead element question

Hi,

I’ve got a Smeg SE335SS-5 and it doesn’t get hot anymore. I was wondering if I need to change the thermostat as well as the element.

What happened was I put something in that needed 30mins, but about 10mins later i could hear the oven creaking from the heat, which it never does. It was very very hot, and killed my food. Since then it doesnt get hot at all. I’ve taken the element out which is obviously dead from the look of it, continuity tester isnt buzzing.

So do you think the thermostat made it get so hot, or is that something that happens when elements die?
I don’t want to put a new element in and the same thing happen again :rolls:

heres a pic of it http://i45.tinypic.com/2djb1c6.jpg