SCOT LIES DEAD IN FLAT FOR A YEAR

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Aug 26, 2007 | by PAMELA OWEN

A MAN lay dead in his flat for more than a year before his body was found, it emerged yesterday.

Jim Sinclair, 61, who lived alone, is believed to have lain undiscovered in his council-owned flat in Aberdeen for 14 months.

It is believed that an electricity company alerted police after it became suspicious of his whereabouts.

Neighbours of Mr Sinclair said they were shocked at the grim discovery and thought that he had been hospitalised or was visiting his daughter who is believed to live in the city.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "I can't believe he was in there for that length of time and neighbours in that block never noticed anything.

"I knew him to say 'hello' to and he was known as Fatboy Slim. That was his nickname.

"The last time I saw him was around two years ago around this time. He told me he had been hospital as he had had a heart attack."

Another neighbour, who lived above Mr Sinclair, said: "I arrived home on Monday and there was this horrific smell in the landing. When I came up the stairs, I saw a joiner and he looked ashen- faced. People came and took the body away later in the day.

"As far as I'm led to believe, he died 14 months ago. Everyone just took him to be absent and the guy below me was under the impression he had been hospitalised. It's a sad reflection on society that a guy can lie dead for 14 months without anyone noticing."

Former neighbours Douglas and Mary Annand said they had not seen him for months and had been told he was in hospital.

Mr Annand said: "He was friendly with everyone and it's such a shame.

It's been a fair while since I've seen him and the last I heard he was in hospital."

Local Councillor Len Ironside said the incident demonstrated a worrying lack of community.

He said: "I find these circumstances atrocious and I find it terrible that someone can go unnoticed for such a length of time.

"It's dreadful that nobody noticed Mr Sinclair was missing and nobody knocked on his door. The council needs to start looking out for tenants' wefare."

In July, debt collectors from the council found the body of another man in a flat in Aberdeen after he hadn't paid his rent for up to a year.

Grampian police confirmed they had attended a flat in the Aberdeen area and that a 61-year-old man had been found dead. They are not treating the death as suspicious.

The council was unavailable for comment last night.