6.19PM, Tue Apr 5 2005
ITV
A local authority has apologised to the family of a 63-year-old man whose body lay undiscovered for almost six years in a council flat.
An inquest heard that Kenneth Mann was found dead at his home in Carless Street, Walsall, West Midlands, last June when a neighbour's grandson forced his way in to the premises.
Black Country coroner Robin Balmain recorded a verdict of death by natural causes and expressed his sadness at such a thing happening in the 21st century.
Speaking after the hearing, Annie Shepperd, the chief executive of Walsall Council, said: "Kenneth Mann died alone - friendless and isolated from his family.
"This is the sad and shocking story of the lonely death of a man whose life was disintegrating."
Ms Shepperd, who stressed that nothing could have been done to avoid the death, added: "Without friends, family, church, neighbours or his landlords to keep in touch with him, our society failed Mr Mann.
"The authorities also did not pick up his death and we are deeply sorry that this did not happen."
The inquest in Walsall heard that Mr Mann's body remained undiscovered for so long because his property was earmarked for demolition.
Mr Mann's badly-decomposed, fully-clothed body was found lying on the bed of his first-floor flat.
It is thought Mr Mann, who was described as a loner and a "bit of an eccentric", died on or about 23 September 1998.
Recording his verdict, Mr Balmain said it appeared Mr Mann had fallen through the net despite repeated visits and letters by the housing trust, the Benefits Agency and the Pension Service.
He had been admitted to the accident and emergency department of Walsall Manor Hospital after a drunken fall the day before he is thought to have died.
Several people who visited the flat over the years were told by neighbours that he had moved or died, the inquest was told.
