A human skeleton has been found in a south London flat after neighbours complained about a bad smell for more than two years.

Locals in Peckham say the 61-year-old woman owed thousands of pounds in rent and her letterbox had been overflowing for months.

They began reporting the ‘foul smell’ in the building to the housing association landlord in October 2019.

But it took 28 months before officers finally forced the door open on Friday, and found a body in the property.

A young woman, who lives next door, said: ‘It’s disgusting and I’m just shocked. I have been living here since 2008.

‘It’s a small three-story complex. I didn’t know her very well, but she would sometimes collect my deliveries for me.

‘I came back from a trip abroad in September or October 2019 when I noticed a horrific stench in the building. It was so bad, I had to put a towel under the door.’

Neighbours became increasingly concerned when her mail began piling up and a forced entry notice for a gas check appeared on her door in 2020.

The neighbour said: ‘We repeatedly called the housing association because it was weird. Her letterbox was full and I could see from the letters she hadn’t been paying rent.

‘I called them up again and said I hadn’t seen this lady in months.

‘The police came but they said lots of people had moved out of London during the pandemic and she could be abroad.’

A Boris bike was also abandoned in front of her door and neighbours again complained when it wasn’t removed.

They say police attended the property on several occasions but did not break the door down until this week.

The neighbour said: ‘Finally, the police came after someone called and complained about the smell again.

‘They broke down the door and it revealed what I had feared the whole time – that she was dead.

‘They told me she was basically a skeleton and asked me to confirm her ethnicity.’

A police spokesperson said: ‘At 19:01hrs on Friday, 18 February police were called to a flat in St Mary’s Road, Peckham.

‘Concerns had been raised about the welfare of a woman who lived at the address.

‘Officers attended and forced entry. The body of a 61-year-old woman who was deceased was found inside.

‘The woman’s death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Source: Read Full Article