Woman’s body only discovered when smell got so bad neighbours became concerned

A man has been charged over the death of a ‘lovely, friendly’ woman in southeast London.

Barbara McCann, 47, had only lived at the former police station turned apartment block in Catford for around a week when she was found dead in her flat on June 9.

A neighbor told Metro: ‘She had recently moved in after being in emergency accommodation before. She seemed a perfectly lovely, friendly lady.’

She said neighbors became concerned after noticing a stench coming from Ms McCann’s flat.

She added: ‘There was a terrible smell. The building manager went in to check, and they found the body. It must have been there for a few days.

‘We are all devastated that this has happened and our hearts go out to her family. She lived alone as far as I could see.’

The neighbor said there had been ‘forensics and detectives all over the flats’ after Ms McCann’s body was found. ‘It’s all ironic, given that this used to be a police station,’ she added.

A mother-of-four who lives opposite the block said: ‘There were so many police on the scene and forensics coming out with evidence. It leaves me cold to think what happened just yards from my place.

‘Detectives have been trawling through CCTV and carrying out door-to-door inquiries.’

Police say they responded to concerns for the welfare of a woman inside a property on Catford Hill at 11.35am that day.

Ms McCann was pronounced dead at the scene, and her family are being supported by specialist officers.

Derek Bradshaw, 32, was arrested in Hillingdon, west London, in connection with Ms McCann’s death.

He has been charged with murder following the incident and appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday, June 16.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Franklin, leading the investigation, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with Barbara’s family at this unimaginably difficult time.

‘If you have any information about Barbara’s death, no matter how small, please assist our investigation by contacting us as a matter of urgency.’