A WOMAN died in squalor the day after police visited and decided she was OK after looking at her through a window.

A Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) has been issued a final written warning after being sent to check on the 64-year-old and only tapping on the window before leaving.

The PCSO was assigned to carry out a welfare check on the woman after a concerned workman carrying out repairs on the building said she was living in squalor.

The workman said the woman, later identified as Cherry Madden, looked emaciated and appeared to be living within the confines of her living room in Cornwallis Gardens, Hastings in August 2016.

The PSCO was assigned to conduct a welfare check at the property and attended alongside a colleague before saying there was no cause for concern.

Ms Madden was found dead the next day and an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation was launched after the matter was referred to the organisation by Sussex Police.

A misconduct hearing panel has heard that the PCSO - who is not being named by Sussex Police, was directed to a lower floor window by the workman and was able to view Ms Madden sitting in her living room.

The PCSO tapped on the window and said he saw Ms Madden, who he described as being well presented, react and reported back that she was OK.

His description of her condition was in contrast with that of the workman, who said she looked very unwell, was not properly dressed and the room was squalid.

The following day the workman, who remained concerned, called for an ambulance to attend the property. Police were also called to attend and Ms Madden was found dead. A post-mortem concluded she had died earlier that day.

The panel concluded that the PCSO’s actions construed gross misconduct and he was issued with a final written warning.

Commission Delegate Catherine Hall said: “I am pleased that Sussex Police agreed with the conclusions of our investigation that the PCSO’s conduct in carrying out his duty on August 27, 2016 required closer examination. The IPCC will publish a summary of its report following an inquest into the death of Ms Madden, scheduled for next month.”