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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Man lay dead in bed for two years | Man lay dead in bed for two years |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The body of a man found in a bed at his Lancashire home is believed to have lain undiscovered for more than two years, police have said. | The body of a man found in a bed at his Lancashire home is believed to have lain undiscovered for more than two years, police have said. |
| Brian Dean, 70, was found at the terraced house in Huncoat, near Accrington, by police officers when they broke the door down. | |
| A pile of unopened post dating back two years was found behind the door. | A pile of unopened post dating back two years was found behind the door. |
| Tests are being carried out to determine a cause of death and officers are also trying to trace relatives. | Tests are being carried out to determine a cause of death and officers are also trying to trace relatives. |
| Neighbours said Mr Dean was rarely seen and was a private person. | Neighbours said Mr Dean was rarely seen and was a private person. |
| Alarms were not raised with official authorities because bills were still being paid by direct debit from Mr Dean's bank account. | Alarms were not raised with official authorities because bills were still being paid by direct debit from Mr Dean's bank account. |
| He had withdrawn from society so it was understandable that he hadn't been seen Councillor Paul Gott | |
| Det Insp Jill Johnston, of Lancashire police, said: "We believe Mr Dean may have been in the house for over two years because mail dated back to June 2006 was stacked up behind his door. | Det Insp Jill Johnston, of Lancashire police, said: "We believe Mr Dean may have been in the house for over two years because mail dated back to June 2006 was stacked up behind his door. |
| "We know Mr Dean was a very private man and it is very sad that he had not been missed by anybody for such a long time." | "We know Mr Dean was a very private man and it is very sad that he had not been missed by anybody for such a long time." |
| Local councillor Paul Gott, of Hyndburn Council, said: "Everybody knew Brian was very reclusive. He would go out late at night and come back in the dark in the morning. | |
| "He had withdrawn from society so it was understandable that he hadn't been seen. As time goes by and life carries on it just got longer and longer." | |
| Mr Gott said Mr Dean's sad death could act as a way of making people pay more attention to their neighbours. | |
| "I think everybody should really look at who is within their community and ask if there's a possibility you haven't seen somebody," he said. | |
| "It may be intrusive to go and knock on the door and say, 'Is everything okay?' but this is a good reminder." |