Dead woman, 83, found taped up

The body of an 83-year-old woman has been found with her legs wrapped in duct tape at her north London home.

The victim was found in her three-storey home in Leweston Place, Stamford Hill, on New Year's Day.

A neighbour said the woman, who lived alone, told her a few weeks earlier that she was being pursued for cash.

Police are investigating if there was a break-in and said they are keeping an open mind as regards the motive but are treating the death as suspicious.

She was a really nice old lady and we are very shocked about it Mrs Just, neighbour

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "She told me that there was somebody after her money but I didn't ask any more about it.

"I just assumed she was old and confused."

Next-door neighbour Rebecca Goldberger, who has lived in the area for more than 16 years, said the elderly woman had been targeted by criminals before.

She said the pensioner was robbed last year by conmen posing as gardeners who tricked their way into the house and stole money.

Mrs Goldberger said: "The police say the house has been very cold so I think that is confusing things about when she might have died.

"Nobody knows how long she's been there."

Another neighbour, who gave her name as Mrs Just, said: "She was a really nice old lady and we are very shocked about it."

The woman was found by officers after a niece raised concerns.

Police cordoned off both the dead woman's home and the next door property and are notifying next of kin.

Forensic officers could be seen going in and out of the house and small crowds of onlookers gathered as people in the largely orthodox Jewish area prepared for the Sabbath.

A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.