Bins set to have locks after teacher's crush death, inquest hears (From The Argus)

Bins set to have locks after teacher's crush death, inquest hears

3:21pm Wednesday 10th March 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(16)

Commercial wheelie bins are set to have compulsory locks on them following the tragic death of a teacher who climbed into one after a night out in Brighton.

Scott Williams, 35, who was found the following morning crushed to death at a waste transfer site in North Quay Road, Newhaven.

Today, a jury recorded a unanimous verdict of accidental death following a two-day inquest. They said they had concluded that Mr Williams got into the unidentified four-wheel bin of his own accord while under the influence of alcohol on Saturday, July 11 last year.

Gilva Tisshaw, assistant deputy coroner for Brighton and Hove, said that the Waste Industry Safety and Health guidelines regarding commercial wheelie bins have been revised following the incident, with changes such as compulsory locks and keeping them away from public areas being recommended.

She added: "However, I think it is important that there is a heightened public awareness of the dangers that can arise from a person or persons being in one of these large bins."

The inquest at Hove Crown Court heard that toxicology tests on Mr Williams, who was deaf in one ear, showed he was three times over the drink driving limit.

A post-mortem examination found he died from crush injuries to his chest, which would have been caused by the mechanism in the waste lorry that transferred him to the site owned by Sussex Waste Recycling Ltd.

During the inquest, jurors were shown CCTV images of Mr Williams's last known movements, which showed him walk a female companion to a taxi rank on Brighton seafront in the early hours of July 12.

It was not known why he climbed into the bin, although the inquest heard that it had rained heavily that evening and he could have been looking for shelter.

Detective Chief Inspector Graham Pratt, of Sussex Police, said officers investigated whether Mr Williams could have been the victim of an assault but found no evidence to suggest he had been and they were satisfied that there was no one else involved.

Mr William's flatmate Robert Pinniger told the inquest it had only been a last-minute decision to spend the night in Brighton.

The two of them had driven down to visit respective family and friends in the city that morning with the intention of returning home to London later that day.

However, after beginning their journey home, they both realised they did not have any particular plans for the evening and decided to drive back into Brighton.

Mr Pinniger told jurors they spent the night drinking in various pubs around the city's Lanes area, before ending up in the Black Lion along with some of his friends.

The men, who shared a flat with two others in Dollis Hill, north-west London, both drank lager along with a number of Sambuca shots, but Mr Pinniger said that Mr Williams did not appear particularly intoxicated as he could handle his drink.

The inquest heard that Mr Williams was a keen sportsman who enjoyed swimming, rowing and playing rugby, and was 6ft 3ins and well-built.

Mr Pinniger said he left the pub early after falling asleep and being asked by door staff to leave, and he assumed that Mr Williams would later follow him back to his mother's house where the pair had arranged to stay the night.

Doorman Robin Morris said in a statement that was read out to the inquest that he had noticed Mr Williams inside the Black Lion as he was "quite muscular and physically imposing" and it was his job to be aware of anyone that might be difficult to handle.

However he went on to say that he found him to be "a good, fun and friendly customer" who took his time over his drinks and was "not stumbling and falling around".

He also noted that after he and his colleagues asked Mr Pinniger to leave, Mr Williams tried to persuade him to let him back in, but "he was too sensible to argue with me".

Mr Morris said he stayed until the pub closed at around 2.30am when he left with a woman he had been flirting with all night.

Charlotte Radford told the inquest that she had met Mr Williams in the pub that night and he had walked her and her sister to a taxi rank at the end of the evening.

She said he did not seem that drunk and when she left him she believed he had cash on him and a mobile phone and so did not worry about what he would do.

The inquest also heard from Mr Williams's brother, Tony, who had spent the day with him in Brighton and described him as someone who was "very outgoing" and "very well-liked".

He said Mr Williams, who had lived in the UK for around seven years, had been to the city at least twice before and knew his way around reasonably well.

He added that he could have also spent the night with him at his girlfriend's flat in Hove if he had wanted to and had been there before.

He called and texted his mobile the next day but he did not hear back from Mr Williams, which he thought was "very weird".

The inquest heard that Mr Pinniger also got no reply from Mr Williams when he tried to contact him on the Sunday, and he returned to London alone.

He said he became worried when his flatmate had still not returned to go to work on the Monday morning, and so he phoned his mother to ask if she could call police in Brighton.

Mr Williams's body was found in Newhaven at around 7am that day.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Williams's mother, Marion, who came over to the UK from New Zealand for the inquest with her elder son, Malcom Frethey, described Mr Williams as his "best friend".

He said of Mr Williams, who was also best man at his wedding: "He was very generous to people, and caring. He had an amazing sense of humour.

"He was very close to his family and was planning on coming home."

He added: "We're pleased the procedures are in place to hopefully reduce this from happening in the future."

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(16)