Couple living with 'horrific' smell for weeks find neighbour's body decomposing

14 October 2023 , 15:27

1054     0

Mr and Mrs King were left dealing with a 'horrific' smell, which turned out to be their decomposing neighbour (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE)

A couple living with a "horrific" smell spreading through their house were unsure what was causing the stench - until they found their neighbour's body decomposing.

Richard King found neighbour Ian Maddicks, 82, inside his home in Gaer, Newport. Experts say the pensioner had been dead for weeks, and the couple living next door are still dealing with the foul odour weeks on from their grim discovery. Mr King and his wife had grown concerned for their elderly neighbour and after not seeing him for some time they entered his flat and noticing a strange smell in the air.

Ian Maddicks (pictured) was found dead in his home and had been there for several weeks, a coroner said (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Now, the King couple are desperately trying to rid the smell from their own home, but to no avail. Mr King said: "It was horrific. If you've ever smelt that before, it's not something you ever forget. We realised it might be coming from next door when we established it wasn't in our house. This was after emptying our bathroom and bleaching everything." A coroner ruled Mr Maddicks had been decomposing in his home for at least two weeks by the time he was found this summer.

The house is set to be cleaned, though with no executor for Mr Maddicks, it is currently unclear who is responsible for the property. Cleaning and emptying the house has since been left "in limbo" as no responsibility has been taken. Mr King added: "Last month, the solicitor told us it would be cleaned within a week, but nothing has been done since and we're still dealing with this stink, which is particularly bad in the heat.

"We eventually had an environmental health officer arrive weeks later, who should've come earlier after the coroner told them it was a biohazard. The officer refused to enter the house and told us he had been summoned to investigate an odour - which he couldn't smell - and not a biohazard, which he'd had to look up online, so it wasn't a major issue."

'I'm spending £20k on a new bathroom - but won't help my brother out with cash'

A Newport City Council spokesperson said: "A complaint was made about the property in the summer and a formal notice to thoroughly clean the property was served at the beginning of August. The council has been in contact with the solicitors dealing with the estate who confirmed in August that they would make arrangements for the necessary work to be undertaken.

"Information was received in August and September in relation to legal matters which needed to be completed before the work could take place and a further update was requested this week. This case is being monitored and if the formal notice is not complied with, the council may progress to undertaking works in default. Newport City Council would like to express its sympathy to the family and friends of the late resident. It is doing everything in its powers to help resolve the complaint."

Ewan Gleadow