Details about murdered MI6 officer Gareth Williams (30) are emerging as police continue to investigate the events surrounding his death.
Further tests will be carried out on the body to establish how he died after a postmortem proved inconclusive.
Mr Williams’s decomposing remains were found by police stuffed inside a holdall in the bath of his London home on Monday. His body may have lain undiscovered for up to a fortnight.
Officers broke down the door after attempts by the Foreign Office to locate him via his former landlady failed.
Originally from Wales, Mr Williams studied at Cambridge University - one of the traditional recruiting grounds for the British secret services. He excelled at maths, embarking on a postgraduate certificate at St Catharine’s college in 2000.
But he dropped out after a year and began a career working for the secret services.
Relative William Hughes said he worked for GCHQ, the government’s so-called listening post, for “many years”, but he keep quiet regarding the actual nature of his work. “He would never talk about it and it felt rude to ask,” Mr Hughes told the BBC.
Jenny Elliott, his former landlady in Cheltenham, described Mr Williams as “a lovely guy”. She added that during his time living in Cheltenham he was often sent overseas, spending much of this time in the United States. Residents close to his London address said Mr Williams was “extremely friendly”.
A keen cyclist, Mr Williams competed in races in Cheltenham, and was described by those who knew him as extremely fit.
A fellow member of the Cheltenham & Country Cycle Club told the London Times: "He turned up at events, rode very well and then went on his way. He never took part in any of our more social rides."
One London neighbour also attested to his private nature. Laura Houghton said Mr William’s windows were always shut with the curtains drawn. “I could never tell if anyone was in,” she added.
His former landlady said Mr Williams, who was believed to be single, rarely entertained and did not have a wide circle of friends.
PA