A British businessman has been discovered battered to death in an apartment in Barcelona.

Derek Cowan, 46, a Scottish expatriate who lived with his Spanish girlfriend in the Catalan city, was found by police earlier this month lying in a pool of his own blood.

Mossos d’Esquadra, the city’s police force have described the death as violent and their murder squad are investigating as officers await the results of a post-mortem examination.

Mr Cowan, who grew up in Lanarkshire in Scotland, settled in Spain several years ago, he was found dead in his apartment on October 8.

It has been reported that he ran his own business with a German partner in the Spanish city.

On the Friends Reunited website, Mr Cowan wrote on his profile page: “Have travelled extensively, living in London, Manila and now settled (for the time being) in Barcelona.

“Living with Spanish girlfriend and working as a currency trader in the sun.”

He attended Lanark Grammar School and Larkhall Academy in Lanarkshire, according to his entry on the site.

John Irvine, 46, a close friend of Mr Cowan, said: “He was a very likeable character, very good fun, entertaining and sociable. He was good-hearted through and through and very close to his friends.

“It is a terrible thing that has happened. It was a shock for all who knew and cared about him. I’m absolutely shattered with it.”

Mr Irvine, who runs a scaffolding firm in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, added: “He had a nice lifestyle in Barcelona and I’m not aware of him having any problems. He always sounded very positive.

“We don’t know much about how his death came about but I can’t imagine Derek upsetting anyone to that degree.”

Mr Irvine said Mr Cowan was abandoned as a baby and brought up in an orphanage before being fostered by a family in Larkhall, Lanarkshire.

In recent years he found his natural mother and half-brother and sister in London.

Mr Irvine said: “He had a pretty unfortunate beginning and a tragic end but he did more living than a lot of people.”

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman confirmed an investigation was under way.

“I can confirm the death of Derek Cowan, aged 46, in Spain,” she said.

“Next of kin have been informed in the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in contact with the Spanish authorities who are looking into this.”

Times Recommends

• Swine flu vaccine for all as drug rushed through
• Artificial sperm and the race to build a baby
• BBC jets out stars to tout for prizes