DETECTIVES have charged a man with preventing lawful burial after the body of a woman was located in Torquay this week.

Jamie Stevens, 51, of Reddenhill Road, Torquay, appeared at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, May 29, charged with preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body between 21 May, 2022 and May 28, 2025 and committing an act or series of acts with intent to pervert the course of justice between April 10, 2025 and May 28, 2025.

Detectives launched an investigation after a missing person report was received in April 2025.

During enquiries, officers attended a flat on Upton Road on May 27 where a body was found.

A spokesperson for Devon & Cornwall Police said: ‘Formal identification is yet to be completed.

‘Enquiries continue in efforts to inform the next of kin of a local woman in her 30s.

‘A forensic postmortem is due to take place later this week and at this time the death is being treated as unexplained.

‘We are working closely with forensic specialists to determine a cause and time of death.

‘A scene guard remains in place and police activity will continue at the scene over the coming days’.