Crushed trash victim was spending weekend in Brighton (From The Argus)

Crushed trash victim was spending weekend in Brighton

10:17am Tuesday 14th July 2009 in

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A man found crushed to death amongst Brighton trash had been spending the weekend in the city with a friend.

Scott Williams, 35, from Wembley, was reported missing just an hour after his body was found at the North Quay waste transfer site in Newhaven yesterday morning at 7am.

Last night, a post mortem revealed Mr Williams died of crush injuries.

Detectives are investigating whether he was killed by machinery inside the vehicle.

He was last seen with a friend in Brighton pubs until 1am on Sunday morning, and had been in one of the wheelie bins. He was clothed when he was found.

However, they are treating his death as unexplained rather than suspicious.

The Argus has highlighted two cases so far this year in which people sleeping in bins narrowly escaped being emptied into the back of dustcarts.

Police have not yet revealed the extent of any injuries.

Detective Chief Inspector Graham Pratt, who is leading the inquiry, said: “Exactly what happened is an issue and where it happened is another issue.

“He was not local.

He was a visitor to Brighton.

“Finding out where he went and what he did are lines of inquiry we are progressing.”

Staff at the Sussex Waste Recycling Ltd depot, which trades as Rabbit, said the rubbish had been delivered by a private contractor which said the bulk of the waste was from the Brighton area.

Director Dave Ely said: “It could have come from anywhere.

“They have given the location as Brighton, but Brighton is quite an extensive area.”

He said he did not know if the load had been collected yesterday morning or earlier in the weekend.

A section of the Rabbit tip was cordoned off yesterday as police scenes of crime officers pored over the spot where the body was found.

The member of staff who made the discovery was sent home to recover.

The name of the company which delivered the body has not been confirmed but police cordoned off an area at nearby PHS Wastetech.

A spokesman for the company said it would be inappropriate to comment because an investigation was under way.

Other workers remained tight-lipped but rumours inevitably began to spread throughout the industrial estate.

A 23-year-old man at a neighbouring business said: “Two kids came in and said an old guy had found a dead body in a bag.

“They said it looked like he had been beaten up and stabbed.

“Someone else said it was a homeless guy in a wheelie bin.”

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.

Did you know Scott Williams? Leave your tributes below.