Body of missing Leeds man discovered next to primary school by staff

The body of a missing man has been found next to a primary school in south Leeds today, police have confirmed.
Sharp Lane Primary School, in Middleton, Leeds. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.Sharp Lane Primary School, in Middleton, Leeds. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.
Sharp Lane Primary School, in Middleton, Leeds. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.

The area surrounding Sharp Lane Primary School, in Sharp Lane, Middleton, was cordoned off by officers from West Yorkshire Police yesterday after the body, believed to be that of missing local man Shaun Howson, was found.

Mr Howson, 32, was described as an avid Leeds United fan during the missing person appeal launched after he was last seen on October 21.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A member of staff from the school came across the body before police were called to the scene yesterday just after 11.40am.

The incident is not being treated as suspicious and the formal identification of the body is still to take place.

A police spokeswoman said: “The body has yet to be formally identified but is believed to be Shaun Howson who was subject of a missing person appeal last month.

“His family have been made aware. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said that despite initial reports, the man’s body was found close to and not on the grounds of the school and that pupils were kept well away from the scene.

Sharp Lane Primary School is situated near to the Ring Road in Middleton and backs on to a large grassed area and playing fields.

A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said: “As soon as this very sad discovery was made the school informed the police immediately and made sure pupils we not able to access or have sight of the area concerned.”