Man who hid girlfriend’s body in airing cupboard for 15 months refuses to reveal cause of death to inquest

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A man who was jailed for hiding the decomposing body of his dead girlfriend for over a year has refused to tell an inquest how the woman died.

Andrew Colin Reade, 43, admitted to concealing the body of Victoria Cherry, 44, at his home in Bolton Greater Manchester, after she had last been seen in October 2015.

Reade was arrested on suspicion of murder after injuries consistent with being strangled were found on Ms Cherry's body but a cause of death could not be established.

Reade was jailed for four years and four months in February for preventing a lawful burial and perverting justice. Mr Reade pleaded guilty to unlawfully concealing Ms Cherry's body following a police raid at the property on 16 January.

Neighbours recalled "a strange smell" emanating from the property, although Reade insisted to them that Ms Cherry had left to stay with her mum while she remained hidden in the cupboard.

Mr Reade was required to attend an inquest into the death on Thursday, but refused to leave his cell, according to Mail Online.

In Mr Reade’s absence, Ms Cherry’s mother, Janet, told the Bolton hearing: "The last time I saw Vicky was at her grandma's funeral and she was there with Andrew. They seemed to be very close but he appeared a bit possessive.

"She did say she was having some relationship problems but said she was excited because Andrew was taking her out.

"He was very possessive of her and at one point she said she was going to leave him and she was packing her bags. We were in contact by phone until September 2015 but she did seem happy the last time that I spoke to her."

Ms Cherry's daughter, Robyn, told the inquest: "She would text me multiple times a day and we would speak by phone twice a week. She sent me pictures of her and Andrew and she seemed happy and healthy. But the last message I received from her was on September 29.

"I messaged her a week later to see if she was okay and I got no reply. A week later I text and phoned again and I heard nothing so I tried a number I had for Andrew. On the October 30 I received a message he had separated from Vicky and she moved to Blackpool.

"He sent me a text message later that night asking me to ring him and I just thought he was going to have a whinge and moan so I didn't bother. On November 9 he texted me to tell me she was living at a hostel in Blackburn," she relayed to the court.

Defence lawyer Nick Ross, defending Reade, told the court: "This is a very unusual case, a very difficult and sensitive case and a very serious case."

Mr Ross also pointed out that police were still analysing toxicology reports and making further investigations into the cause of death.

Judge Timothy Stead said: “The length of time for which this body appears to have rested in an airing cupboard will have made the pathological tests more difficult."