'Quite reclusive' Edinburgh woman 'lay dead in house for months'

A woman who moved from Edinburgh to England lay dead in her home for months before her body was discovered, an inquest was told.

Shocked council workers who broke into her flat in Norwich, Norfolk.

Elizabeth Jeffcoat, 47, who lived in the city until 2005, was found in her bedroom on June 16 by shocked council workers who broke into her flat in Norwich, Norfolk.

Police officers called to the scene discovered medicines and food in the fridge dated from December 2019, indicating she had been “dead for a number of months”.

PC Liam Abigail told Norfolk Coroner’s Court that officers had been unable to find Ms Jeffcoat’s next of kin despite extensive inquiries.

The officer added that a neighbour described Miss Jeffcoat as “quite reclusive” and as someone who spent most of her time inside

The inquest was told that following a post mortem pathologists had been unable to identify a cause of death due to the condition of her body.

Coroner Jacqueline Lake gave an open conclusion to a “very sad inquest”.

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