Housing workers changed the locks on a shed without spotting the body of a Darlaston father who had been missing for more than three years inside it, an inquest has heard.

David Bradley was eventually discovered by cleaning staff in the shed just yards from his home, in Brunel Court, off Cobden Street, but it was unclear how long he had been there. 

Black Country Coroner Mr Robin Balmain recorded an open verdict at yesterday’s hearing and told his family “it remained a mystery” why Mr Bradley was in the shed. He had been missing for more than three years.

The 50-year-old was found by cleaning company staff on March 5 this year.

Mr Balmain revealed the lock on the small shed had been changed previously, but housing services staff did not notice him.

The property is now owned by Walsall Housing Group which took over the site from Walsall Council.

Mr Balmain told the hearing: “Housing staff changed the lock without checking what was inside.” 

Mr Bradley’s wife Dianne told the inquest held at Manor Hospital she had asked him to leave due to his drinking problems.

“I last saw him just over three years ago. I was fed up with his drinking which sometimes caused arguments. He took a plastic bag with some clothes and said he was going to the coast.

“I never saw him again,” she said.

She told the hearing Mr Bradley’s brother Johnny said he saw her husband once in Walsall town centre.

Mr Balmain said a post mortem failed to ascertain the cause of the father-of-three’s death because his body was too badly decomposed.

He recorded an open verdict. After the hearing Mr Bradley’s daughter Rosie said: “It is a poor excuse saying the locks were changed and no-one saw him. 

“Now we are never going to know what our dad died of.”