‘Mummified’ sex offender found in caravan six months after fleeing

Pathologist Dr Deborah Cook, who carried out the post-mortem examination on Scatchard, said his body was “heavily decomposed” and there was no evidence of any third party involvement in his death or any intention to self-harm.

“In an individual without pre-existing compromise to respiratory function, the probable effect of five rib fractures would be a degree of chest pain, a potential difficulty in taking deep breaths.

“But five rib fractures would not be anticipated to cause death.

“With the degree of decomposition present, it’s not possible to exclude a concussive head injury having caused or contributed to death,” she added.

Toxicology samples showed a presence of alcohol and the compound contained in sleeping tablets, cough mixture or hay fever tablets, but accurate samples were unable to be obtained for assessment due to the level of decomposition.

Cook added: “Given the advanced stage of decomposition with likely interval between death and post-mortem of over five months, it’s not possible to confirm or refute a hypothesis that death was due to sleeping tablet toxicity, or to a combination of sleeping tablets and alcohol.”

She added that the cause of his death was “unascertained”.

Marsh, senior coroner for Somerset, said she would record Scatchard’s date of death as 4 April 2024 – the date his body was discovered – as she had no conclusive evidence to pinpoint exactly when he died.

She told the inquest that she found “no opportunity” for police to locate Scatchard alive either.

“He was someone who did not want to be found. I’ve got no evidence that he’s alive after October 16.

“I accept he would have known undoubtedly he was going back to prison, and he would likely have been there for some time, which is a fact I think he would have also have been aware of,” she added.