Man found dead in outbuilding
A MAN was found dead in an outbuilding behind his shop, a coroner has heard.
Stuart Sloan, 50, was found dead in the outbuilding in Llantwit Major on July 17, after being reported missing that day.
Officers attended the Sloan & Co shop before discovering the body.
An inquest opening held at Pontypridd Coroner’s Office on Friday into Mr Sloan’s death heard how a provisional cause of death was given as asphyxia.
The hearing heard how Mr Sloan, whose home address was given as Aberdare, was reported missing on July 17 after attempts to contact him failed.
Officers attended his shop before discovering the body in an outbuilding behind.
A cordon was put in place around the women’s clothing store.
Officers are continuing their investigation into the death – which they are treating as “unexplained”.
While detectives have not given out any further details, they confirmed they had previously visited Sloan & Co a week before Mr Sloan’s tragic demise.
A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: “On the afternoon of Saturday, July 10, officers attended a retail premises in Llantwit Major to perform a welfare check.”
The store temporarily closed after police’s visit that day, and windows were covered, but it later reopened towards the end of the week before Mr Sloan died.
The store’s Facebook page now lists the business as being “permanently closed”.
Assistant coroner Sarah Richards adjourned the hearing until February 2023.