Man lived with corpse in Wakefield house for eight days without contacting police

Mark Sheldon pleaded guilty to an offence of preventing a lawful and decent burial over the incident in Wakefield.

Leeds Crown Court heard details of the offence after the 51-year-old defendant admitted the offence at a plea hearing.

The offence relates to the death of Gareth Oldroyd, who is believed to have died at a house on Esther Grove, Lupset, on December 22, 2018.

James Lake, prosecuting, said Mr Oldroyd died of a drug overdose at the property.

Mr Lake said Mr Oldroyd had been staying at the property with Sheldon and another man.

The prosecutor said: "The Crown's case is that the deceased probably died on December 22, 2018, and the defendant was aware of it on the 22nd.

"There was no foul play whatsoever but he panicked and did not report the death."

Mr Lake said police were eventually contacted when Sheldon's friend went to the house.

He asked Sheldon and the other man why they were living in the bedroom and not in the living room.

The court heard Sheldon then confessed that Mr Oldroyd's body was in the living room and that he had found him dead days earlier.

Police discovered the body at the property on December 30, 2018.

Judge Christopher Batty adjourned sentencing to allow for a probation report and for a report into the defendant's health.

The judge said he also wanted to adjourn the case to give Mr Oldroyd's relatives the opportunity of attending the hearing.

He said: "I think there ought to be a full report in this case.

"This is a very unusual case. The court needs to know as much about this defendant as possible."

Sheldon, now of Victoria Grove, Wakefield, appeared in court via a video link from Armley jail.

He was told he will remain in custody until his sentencing on June 30.