THE body of a young man found dead in Sudbury town centre lay undiscovered for at least four days, it can be revealed.

Jamie Thompson, 24, was found at the rear of a shop in Gainsborough Street earlier this week.

A post-mortem examination has confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Thompson, who was the son of a prominent businessman in the town.

Although Suffolk police have not officially named him and are still treating the death as “unexplained” his identity was established after the body was recovered from a courtyard close to the entrance of the Thomas Gainsborough Museum in Weavers Lane.

The town was left in shock when it was revealed he was the youngest son of David and Patricia Thompson, who lost their eldest son just over five years ago.

Mr Thompson owns The Salt House and the Movie Shop in Gainsborough Street, close to where his son was found on Tuesday.

Police were called just after 4pm after reports that a body had been spotted at the rear of The China Shop.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and a cordon was placed around the building as forensic teams investigated the property – including the apartment above the shop where Jamie is believed to have lived.

His death is the third tragedy to strike the family following the death of his older brother Dan Thompson, 30, killed in a car crash in 2004, and his cousin Charlotte, 13, who was killed on a railway level-crossing at Elsenham, Essex, a year later. A police spokesman said the death continues to be treated as unexplained and an inquest will be held at a later date to be confirmed.

Within hours of his death tributes began flooding in from friends.

Close friend Matt Seddon said it was a tragedy for his family. “He was a great mate and like a brother to me. I used to see him every day and he was simply a great bloke,” he said.

Floral tributes from friends and family have filled the entrance to the China Shop behind the police cordon which remained in place yesterday.