Alone in life and in death
13.05.2023 - 09:05
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Robert Julius Alton lived alone in a small, one-bed flat opposite a primary school on the outskirts of Bolton town centre. Neighbours say they saw little of him - and knew even less.
So when, sometime in early 2017, they stopped seeing the pensioner on his occasional walks out, they assumed he'd moved away. In fact Mr Alton, thought to be 70, had died.
Tragically, his body would lay undiscovered for six years at the top of the stairs in his Hemsworth Road home until March 9 this year when housing officials forced entry to carry out a gas test.
READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
It has left many questioning how such a thing could happen in 21st Century Greater Manchester. Local councillor Linda Thomas told the Manchester Evening News: "It's devastating to think of someone dying like that alone.
"It's heartbreaking to think of someone in that situation. Isolation is such a terrible thing.
"In this day and age it's unbelievable that someone could die like this without anyone noticing. It just goes to show the importance of checking in your neighbours, just to make sure they're okay."
Mr Alton was described as well-spoken and was said to have had The Sun newspaper delivered on Saturdays and Sundays.
When police finally entered his home, post was piled up at the door. In the living room, a newspaper dated 2017 was found, along with a television guide dated May 4 of that year.
Mr Alton's reading glasses were sat on top. Milk dated 2017 was in the fridge.
It marked a tragic end to a solitary existence.
One neighbour said: "I spoke to him once or twice, just to say hello to. He was a nice gentleman.
"He'd only lived here for a few years and then I didn't see him and thought he'd moved