Probe launched after body of 'decent fella' found in Norfolk

Emergency services, including police and ambulance, were called to Napoleon Place, Great Yarmouth, behind The Hippodrome Circus and close to the town's Marina Centre and Golden Mile on Saturday (September 22).

Police at a property at Napoleon Place, Great Yarmouth (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)A terraced property has been cordoned off by police who remained on the scene throughout the day on Sunday (September 23).

The alarm was raised by concerned neighbours who had not seen the man, named locally as window cleaner Clive Benson, for a number of days.

His body was recovered from the property after neighbours said they managed to get into the property and found him.

Police at the property at Napoleon Place, Great Yarmouth (Image: Peter Walsh, Neswsquest)One of them, a 44-year-old man, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "I looked in and saw him, he was dead."

He said Clive was "going to be missed".

A 72-year-old neighbour, who did not want to be named, said another neighbour had asked if she had seen Clive.

That woman was “concerned” as she had not seen him and had been knocking at his door.

The neighbour, who also had not seen him for a few days, called the police who asked her to check if there was unopened mail as well as his work van which was parked nearby.

While she was on the phone to police another neighbour tried the door, which was unlocked, and her husband, 74, saw his body on the floor.

Police and ambulance crews were dispatched and forensics teams also later arrived.

Napoleon Place, Great Yarmouth (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)The woman said she was shocked.

She said: "He was a good neighbour and knew a lot of people.

"He was very friendly - if you wanted anything he always helped.

"He was just a nice guy.

"He was just absolutely brilliant."

She and her husband, who have lived in the town for about four years, said Clive, who used to work as a door supervisor in the town, had recently been visited by his son, who was in the army.

Her 75-year-old husband said Clive usually "kept himself to himself" but could "talk for England".

He said: "He was a proper, proper nice and decent fella.

"A nice man.

"He was a lovely guy, a fabulous guy.

"He used to go out for a cigarette and everyone would stop and chat to him."

He added: "It was devastating to be honest.

"I couldn't talk to the police, I started crying".

Police at Napoleon Place, Great Yarmouth (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)As well as working on the doors in the town Clive also liked to dance prior to Covid although he latterly has had problems with diabetes. 

Clive's cat has also not been seen for a few days.

A 25-year-old woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "My neighbour told me he died.

"I heard her talking on the phone and saw the ambulance.

"I ran outside and they told me he was inside.

"They told me he had died.

"I was just shocked - I don't know what to say."

In describing Clive, she said: "He was really nice.

"He would ask 'how are you' and 'are you alright'.

"He was a nice man who used to help me with orders.

"If I had an Amazon delivery and was not home he would go out and take the order and give it back to me or my brother."

Gobi Mohan, store manager of the nearby Express Store in St Peter's Road, said Clive was a "lovely man" and "great customer".

The Express Store in Great Yarmouth (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)He said he used to come in "every day" and was "very friendly".

Another man living in the area described Clive as a "good man" who was "friendly" and who helped everyone".

Clive was also described as a "kind man" and a "good man" by a 74-year-old woman, who he had cleaned windows for over a number of years.

Officers were thought to have been conducting door-to-door enquiries on Saturday night while a police patrol car remained outside the property on Sunday.