BUSINESS tycoon Duncan Bannatyne has raised questions over the death of high profile financier Scot Young - claiming he does not believe he took his own life.

 

The Dragon's Den star took to social media to tell of his shock at the death of Mr Young, who fell 60ft on to railings outside his central London apartment on Monday afternoon.

Several other friends of the businessman, originally from Dundee, have also questioned whether he would commit suicide, however Scotland Yard maintain that the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Bannatyne wrote on Twitter: "Jeeesus Christ. Just read Scot Young is dead. I don't believe he killed himself."

Both men have been involved in multi-million pound divorce battles, with Mr Young's estranged wife, Michelle, being awarded £20 million by a judge in November last year.

He claimed he was penniless, but Mrs Young argued that he had £400m stashed away in offshore accounts. The judge eventually valued his wealth at £40m and Mr Young was jailed for contempt of court after refusing to reveal his assets.

However, in March this year it was revealed that Mrs Young had still received no payment.

Mr Bannatyne, whose divorce is reported to have cost him £345million, added: "Scot died after being dragged thro family courts for 7 yrs. He was a good man."

Following Mr Young's death, friends have visited the scene outside his £3m rented flat in London's Marylebone, with many leaving flowers and notes.

One visitor said: "He was a great man and a good father who has been let down by the British legal system. We don't know if it was suicide yet."

Another added: "I hope this makes people realise now that there was no money, he didn't have any money. It is very unpleasant."

Reports also emerged that Mr Young, who is believed to have been friends with Topshop billionaire Sir Philip Green, may have become involved with the Russian and Turkish mafia.

It has been claimed that he was hung out of a hotel window by gangsters two years ago as a warning and was told in no uncertain terms that he would be dropped the next time if he did not come up with some money.

A friend is reported as saying: "I do not believe for one minute Scot committed suicide, my heart tells me he was killed. There is no way he would have jumped to his death.

"I knew him very, very well, we have been friends for over 20 years. We are all very scared about what might happen. I believe Scot was murdered."

He added: "Two years ago he was hung off the balcony of a hotel room at the Dorchester by Russian mafia he owed money to, before he went to prison. He never went back there after that. He owed a lot of money to the wrong sort of people."

Other associates of the 52-year-old also claimed that he had confided in them recently that he feared for his safety.

One said: "He was very worried, he said he knew someone was following him. Many of Scot's friends aren't surprised that he died."

Mr Young's ex-wife Michelle, 50, who was locked in a long legal battle with him, said after his death: ''I just want to be left alone.''

She told a London-based newpaper earlier that she was with the couple's two daughters and said they ''have been to hell and back''.

A neighbour said Mr Young and Ms Reno had been living for a few months at the property, which is believed to be rented and is opposite the Swedish embassy and next to the embassy of Switzerland.

Mr Young, who appeared in reality show Ladies of London with his American fiancé Noelle Reno, 30, had previously suffered from depression and been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Reports also suggested that he may have had a falling out with Miss Reno shortly before his death.