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| Man jailed for hiding neighbour's body and using flat as cannabis factory | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man has been jailed for hiding his neighbour’s body “like a piece of rubbish” under a tarpaulin in a yard so he could use his flat as a cannabis factory. | A man has been jailed for hiding his neighbour’s body “like a piece of rubbish” under a tarpaulin in a yard so he could use his flat as a cannabis factory. |
| Paul Jackson befriended lonely former navy helicopter engineer Nicholas Clark, 63, but when his neighbour died of natural causes he saw the chance to use his home to produce drugs. | Paul Jackson befriended lonely former navy helicopter engineer Nicholas Clark, 63, but when his neighbour died of natural causes he saw the chance to use his home to produce drugs. |
| Instead of reporting the death, Jackson, 40, removed Clark’s body from the flat in Bristol and hid it under debris in a yard near his friend Anthony Whillier’s home. | Instead of reporting the death, Jackson, 40, removed Clark’s body from the flat in Bristol and hid it under debris in a yard near his friend Anthony Whillier’s home. |
| The body was found months later when Whillier was evicted and his landlord went to clear the flat and yard. | The body was found months later when Whillier was evicted and his landlord went to clear the flat and yard. |
| A murder investigation was launched, Clark was identified and the cannabis factory found at his old home. Police also discovered Jackson had taken money from the dead man’s bank account. | A murder investigation was launched, Clark was identified and the cannabis factory found at his old home. Police also discovered Jackson had taken money from the dead man’s bank account. |
| Jackson was jailed for three-and-half years at Bristol crown court for preventing a lawful burial, theft and allowing the production of cannabis. | Jackson was jailed for three-and-half years at Bristol crown court for preventing a lawful burial, theft and allowing the production of cannabis. |
| Whillier received a two-year suspended jail term and 240 hours of unpaid work for cannabis production. | Whillier received a two-year suspended jail term and 240 hours of unpaid work for cannabis production. |
| Clark’s family, from whom he was estranged, released a statement expressing anger at the lack of respect Jackson had shown. They said: “It’s devastating to know that Nick’s body was treated with such crudeness. The lack of respect shown by the perpetrators is beyond comprehension. | Clark’s family, from whom he was estranged, released a statement expressing anger at the lack of respect Jackson had shown. They said: “It’s devastating to know that Nick’s body was treated with such crudeness. The lack of respect shown by the perpetrators is beyond comprehension. |
| “While Nick may have died in natural circumstances, the actions to move his body from the home he loved … showed a complete lack of respect for any human being, let alone someone classed as a friend. | “While Nick may have died in natural circumstances, the actions to move his body from the home he loved … showed a complete lack of respect for any human being, let alone someone classed as a friend. |
| “Nick deserved to have his human rights respected, and not be treated as something which could be discarded without a moment’s thought. Nick was a lonely man who relied on the support of his neighbours and friends” | “Nick deserved to have his human rights respected, and not be treated as something which could be discarded without a moment’s thought. Nick was a lonely man who relied on the support of his neighbours and friends” |
| Detectives do not know exactly when he died, but Clark had not been seen since undergoing an operation in February 2015. His remains were found in April 2015. | Detectives do not know exactly when he died, but Clark had not been seen since undergoing an operation in February 2015. His remains were found in April 2015. |
| Senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Mike Williams said Jackson took money from Clark’s account after his death. | Senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Mike Williams said Jackson took money from Clark’s account after his death. |
| He said: “Nick’s family have been devastated by the way his body was treated after he died and it’s hard to comprehend how anybody could treat a human being in this callous way. Because he wasn’t reported as missing, it’s very likely his remains would have remained undetected if the yard hadn’t been cleared. | He said: “Nick’s family have been devastated by the way his body was treated after he died and it’s hard to comprehend how anybody could treat a human being in this callous way. Because he wasn’t reported as missing, it’s very likely his remains would have remained undetected if the yard hadn’t been cleared. |
| “Nick deserved respect for loyally serving his country but after he died from natural causes, his so-called friend and neighbour Paul Jackson treated his body like a piece of rubbish.” | “Nick deserved respect for loyally serving his country but after he died from natural causes, his so-called friend and neighbour Paul Jackson treated his body like a piece of rubbish.” |