Mother ‘disgusted’ at council after her son’s body was padlocked inside his flat

A mother has said she is “disgusted” at a council after her son’s body was locked inside his flat and not found for nearly a month.

Jane Grant reported Michael Stewart missing on 7 January after her other son David said he had not seen him for several weeks.

The 32-year-old’s lifeless body was not found until police broke into his flat in Torry, Aberdeen, on 8 March.

The officers were carrying out a welfare check on Mr Stewart at his mother’s request.

Council workers appear to have not checked inside the property before it was secured with a padlock on 12 February.

Mr Stewart’s cause of death has not been confirmed but it is not being treated as suspicious.

His mother said he suffered from epilepsy and was unable to work.

Aberdeen City Council, which confirmed the door was secured in February, said it is updating its procedures in relation to securing vacant properties.

Mrs Grant, who lives in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, told Sky News: “I’m disgusted at the council, utterly disgusted, because they knew of my son’s epilepsy and illnesses, and they also stated that he had a social worker.

“They said they posted Michael a letter while he was in temporary accommodation saying he had been offered permanent accommodation. He never replied to it.

“So if they knew that my son suffered with all these illnesses and problems, why did someone not go up to his door before this?”

Mrs Grant has said she will file a negligence claim against the council, and added: “The policy should have been in place in the first place.

“They shouldn’t have to make this a policy now my son’s dead. It should have already been a policy.”

Mrs Grant continued: “Michael was the most friendly, loving, big-hearted person you could ever come across.

“He would do anything for anybody. He was family-orientated, he was a mummy’s boy, he was friendly with everybody.

“He would go out of his way to help people.”

An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: “We have spoken to the family of Michael Stewart and our thoughts remain with all those affected by his death.

“A report has been submitted by Police Scotland to the Procurator Fiscal and Aberdeen City Council has supported police in their investigations.

“We have carried out a review of the council’s actions and can confirm the property was locked in February following an insecure external door being reported.

“We are committed to updating our procedures in relation to securing properties that are believed to be vacant.

“We will continue to liaise with Mr Stewart’s family and provide support. We respect the privacy of the family at this time and it would not be appropriate to comment further.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Mother ‘disgusted’ at council after her son’s body was padlocked inside his flat