Man dead for 6 years before being discovered

A British man lay dead in his council flat for almost six years before being discovered.

The Guardian reported that the fully clothed skeletal remains of Kenneth Mann, 63, were found last June on his bed in Walsall, West Midlands. He had last been seen in 1998 after being admitted to hospital.

The Guardian said people from official agencies had gone to the door of the flat as Mann lay already dead.

An inquest heard that a police officer had called, and so had bailiffs for the water company after bills went unpaid. There were attempted visits by his doctor, the Benefits Agency, and housing officials chasing unpaid rent, the newspaper said.

His brother had tried to visit. His neighbour across the hallway had not noticed anything wrong.

Housing officials from Walsall council served an eviction notice, but when he failed to reply they assumed he had moved.

The Guardian reported that the council had declared the home empty in May 1999.