A woman found dead in a house after a suspected armed robber tried to hold up a supermarket was described by neighbours as a ‘beautiful girl with a beautiful soul’.
Police have launched a murder inquiry following the grim discovery at a nearby home – with local residents and family friends naming the victim as Courtney Angus.
Flowers were left outside the end terrace property in Batley, West Yorkshire, where the 21-year-old was discovered on Saturday.
Courtney, from nearby Dewsbury, is believed to be one of at least three sisters.
Her grieving stepdad Andy Ledgard today told how she was ‘a free spirit and full of life’.
Heartbroken Andy, 58, who has laid flowers outside the terraced house where Courtney was found dead, said: ‘She was just a lovely girl who has her life taken away before she had a chance.’
Mr Ledgard, who said he has ‘not slept for two days’ since hearing news of the murder, revealed he is not Courtney’s biological father but he is named on her birth certificate.
‘I loved her and took her on as my own,’ said Andy, who has her named tattooed on her on his stomach.
‘I don’t know what she was doing at that man’s house. She did not deserve to die.
‘I’m dreadfully upset and just want answers. I’ve not slept for two days.’
Other devastated family members declined to comment today but one sibling, Chloe, posted a poignant post about sisterhood on her Facebook, which was met with messages of condolence.
Police said formal identification has yet to take place.
Courtney was described in online tributes as ‘a beautiful girl with a beautiful soul’.
One friend wrote on Facebook: ‘Love you in a million ways and I’ll miss you in a million more.’
Tributes have been paid to woman named by local residents and online as Courtney Angus, 21
A man who is believed to live at the house where Courtney was found was arrested after he pulled a knife whilst shoplifting at an ASDA supermarket in Dewsbury.
He remains in custody being quizzed about her murder.
Neighbours said the suspect is called Michael and he did odd jobs, including recently starting a window cleaning round.
No details have yet been revealed about his connection to Courtney. She was not living in the property and had not been seen visiting, according to locals.
The suspect had lived in the stone-built house in Norfolk Street, Batley, for around five years and in that time had had two previous partners.
The most recent one is understood to have moved out with their children a few months ago.
West Yorkshire Police have started that shortly after 9.21pm on Saturday, they responded to reports of an armed robbery at ASDA in Dewsbury, about half a mile from Norfolk Street.
The suspect was arrested after attempt to hold up ASDA supermarket and ‘led police to body’
After his arrest, the man disclosed to officers that a woman, who he believed to be deceased, was inside a property on Norfolk Street, Batley.
Officers attended the address and found the body of a woman.
West Yorkshire Police said the 37-year-old man, who had been arrested a short time before in connection with the robbery incident, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.
Police today remained at the house, which they gained access to on Saturday by smashing through the front door.
Children’s soft toys could be seen at an upstairs bedroom window, which belonged to Michael’s children. There were no children in the property at the time.
Police in the street outside the address in Batley where a woman’s body was discovered
The end-terrace property where police said the suspect told them there was a dead woman
Next door neighbour Adil Hussein said: ‘I knew him as Michael. He’s had a few jobs over the years, factories and building jobs. He’s is an odd job man.
‘Last Friday, the day before all this, he came round offering to clean my windows for £10.
‘He did clean a couple of the other neighbours’ windows.
‘His most recent partner moved out about two months ago nd took the two kids haha had with Michael with her.
‘Before that he’d had another girlfriend and he had one child with her. To my knowledge he has three children.
‘He is a nice enough guy. Never knew him to get into any trouble or be violent. Certainly never thought he would carry knives or hurt anybody.
‘He did seem depressed about the break up, which was to do with his drug habit, he told me. I think he smoked weed.
‘He was living there by himself since the split, but he did have friends round for barbecues, drinks and parties. Nothing too much.
‘He was really good as a neighbour, quite helpful.
‘I never saw a girl there. But he was cruel to animals. He used to beat his pet dog and would not feed his cat, Peggy, we ended up feeding her twice a day.’
Forensic specialists were seen at the address and streets in the area have been cordoned off as they carried out their investigation
Forensic specialists were seen at the address and streets in the area have been cordoned off as they carried out their investigation.
West Yorkshire Police said they are now no longer looking for two other people, a man and woman, who they earlier feared ‘may have come to harm’.
Detective Chief Inspector Dan Bates said: ‘This is clearly a very serious incident, where a young woman has lost her life.
‘There is a heightened police presence in Dewsbury today as we work to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident.
‘A murder investigation is underway [but] we do not believe there is any wider risk to the public at this time.’
Police have appealed to anyone with information to assist as well as CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage.
