‘Old Jock’ found dead at home by police

Jan 29 2008 South Wales Echo

A PENSIONER whose neighbours hadn’t seen him for around a week, was found dead in his home.

The cause of Leslie Battams’ death remains unknown because of the length of time before his body was discovered.

The 75-year-old Dunfermline-born pensioner, also known as ‘Old Jock’, lived alone at Trystan Edward Place, Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil, an inquest into his death, held at the Salvation Army Hall, Merthyr Tydfil, heard.

Police officers went to his flat on May 19, 2007, after reports he had not been seen for some time. When they broke down the door police found Mr Battams’ body on a chair outside the bathroom. There was no evidence of suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Mr Battams had frequented the Wyndham Arms but he hadn’t been seen there for at least a week.

Pc James Liverick said: “One gentleman used to see him on a regular basis coming back in a fairly intoxicated state more or less every day, but hadn’t seen him for approximately a week, either leaving the flat or entering.”

Consultant pathologist Dr Tawfik Elazzabr was unable to give the cause of death, but said it was most probably due to old age.

“This is the only explanation I can give,” he said.

Mr Battams had died five to six days earlier. Deputy coroner Geoff Thomas recorded an open verdict.