Woman shocked after maggots from decomposing 'neighbour's body' invade her home

Maggots [Photo:getty]

A family plagued by maggots falling into their kitchen were horrified to discover the source - a decomposing BODY in the flat upstairs.

Disgusted mum-of-four Karen Davy was baffled when thousands of the bugs began dropping from the ceiling.

When her local council failed to take action she called the police - who broke into the flat upstairs and found a decaying body which had been laying there for a MONTH.

But a week on Karen claims Southern Housing has still not cleaned the upstairs flat in East Dulwich, south London - leaving her overrun with the maggots and flies.

Karen, 37, said: "I can't even sleep at night.

"I have been sitting up waiting for them to appear, and then frantically cleaning with a bucket of bleach when they do.

"The kids are traumatised.

"The younger ones are frightened to go into the kitchen.

"I'm disgusted by the maggots, but more traumatised by what happened to my neighbour.

"The housing group first said they would come round, but then said it was nothing to do with them - it was only when I got the police involved we found the problem.

"And they still haven't sorted it.

We've blocked the hole ourselves, but they are still finding a way in.

"Now they are starting to turn into flies, and the council still haven't cleaned out his flat - it's disgusting."

Housewife Karen shares the flat with her teacher husband Tayo, 40, and their children Naledi, 15, Caira, 11, Micah, 10 and Ayanda, nine.

They first noticed a few maggots on September 17 but returned from a family meal two days later to find hundreds in their kitchen.

Karen called Southern Housing - one of the country's largest housing associations - and after days of making calls, claimed they failed to take action.

After several sleepless nights, she began asking neighbours if they were suffering similar problems, and with the help of a caretaker peered into the flat above.

She said: "We looked through the window, and I've never seen anything like it.

"There were flies coming out of the window above my head, and then were was a breeze of air from inside and the smell was horrendous.

"I almost threw up.

"I called the police straight away."

Police broke into the property and discovered the body of ex-Gulf War soldier Richard Williams, 41, on September 22.

Karen said she and Tayo tried to block the hole in her ceiling next to her water pipe where the maggots are entering but they were still getting in.

She added: "It's disgusting.

"They've removed the body but the council haven't cleared up.

"I don't know how much longer we can go on like this.

"I can't even spray an insecticide because of my daughter's asthma and I'm fed up."

A spokesman for Southern Housing admitted they hadn't been able to clean the flat above because of the ongoing police investigation.

The company has now carried out some pest control treatment in Karen's flat.

Regional operations manager Stephen Lee said: "Southern Housing Group would like to apologise for any distress that has been caused to Ms Davy by the maggots coming into her flat from upstairs.

"We have carried out a treatment for maggots in Ms Davy's flat but unfortunately, due to the ongoing police investigation in the flat above, we have not been able to enter the premises above.

"As soon as we are given the all clear from the police we will be able to send in our pest control contractors to address the issue.

"We are continuing to work with the police to resolve this issue as soon as possible."