Police probe after man, 65, found dead in Walsall flat

It is thought the victim, who has been named locally as Eddie Bradley, may have been dead for several days at the property in St Thomas Close, Coalpool.

West Midlands Police confirmed his death was being treated as suspicious.

Neighbours raised the alarm after growing concerned as they had not seen him for several days.

Officers forced their way into the flat at around 6.30pm on Friday where they were confronted by the grisly scene. Paramedics were sent in but it quickly became clear he had been dead for a considerable time and nothing could be done for him.

The block of flats in the quiet cul-de-sac was cordoned off on Saturday morning as forensic teams began work at the scene. Officers were seen going door-to-door talking to neighbours as they attempted to build up a picture of what happened. They are also trawling CCTV for any clues as to how the victim died.

Detectives are keen to establish who was seen coming and going from the flats over the last week and if anything suspicious was noticed by residents.

Mr Bradley had lived at the flats for around eight years. He lived alone but was said to have 'visitors' from time to time. Margaret Horney, 69, who lived in the flat opposite, called police as she had not seen him since last Sunday and noticed a smell coming from his flat.

She said: "I hadn't seen him for a few days. I went over to where my friends live on the same landing and the smell hit me. I phoned the police and I'm glad I did. The police came and battered the door in.

"The paramedics came out and said 'there isn't anything we can do for him'. I cried, nobody deserves that.

"He used to keep himself to himself. He did have visitors.

"On Sunday I saw him. He always had his blinds open but they were completely closed and the window was open wide. I thought 'that's strange' as it had been like that for a couple of days."

Marjorie Craddock, 72, who lives a short distance from the flats on St Thomas Close, said: "It's tragic, isn't it. It is someone who has got family.

"It is sad to think somebody could be dead for so long without knowing. It's a good job somebody missed him."

Detective Chief Inspector Ed Foster, from West Midlands Police, said: “We suspect the man may have been dead inside in the flat for several days before being discovered.

"Officers have already spoken to a number of neighbours and are building up a picture of the man’s final movements.

“We’d like to hear from anyone who’s seen anything suspicious in St Thomas Close in recent days or any unfamiliar faces coming and going.”

Anyone with information is asked to call West Midlands Police on 101 quoting the log number 2337 from July 6 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.