AN investigation has revealed the number of homeless people who have died either sleeping rough or in emergency accomodation in Brighton over the past year and a half.

Here are the stories of three of those individuals, whose deaths were reported in the Argus.

A full list of all the recorded deaths of homeless people in Brighton and Hove since October 2017 is available here.

The list also includes the circumstances surrounding each person's death, where that information is available.

Bethany Terry

Bright young woman Bethany Terry died from an accidental overdose after moving into emergency accommodation.

Bethany Terry, known by her friends and family as “Bea”, had hopes of completing her degree in criminology and psychology at Brighton University.

But the 27-year-old’s mental health had deteriorated and she had become hooked on drugs when she moved to Windsor Court in Brighton.

Miss Terry’s older sister Kayleigh Loffhagen, a mental health professional, said: “Windsor Court houses individuals with a variety of vulnerabilities closely together without appropriate support and empowerment.

“It’s treated like a dustbin of humanity. People deserve better.”

The Argus:

Jake Humm

Talented young rapper Jake Humm took his own life after a battle with alcohol addiction and mental health.

The 22-year-old, from Brighton, otherwise known as “Resilient Jay” when MCing, hanged himself at the end of August last year.

He was living in YMCA accommodation in Brighton and receiving help from the group’s staff and Pavilions Drug and Alcohol Services. It was clear from an external examination that he had been dead for at least 48 hours, an inquest heard.

Mr Humm’s father said: “He was such a talented rapper. I loved him. We had a really strong bond.

“I was a single father most of my life and even though we didn’t live together, we had such a strong relationship.”

The Argus:

Andrew O’Connell

Much-loved grandfather Andrew O’Connell was murdered while sleeping rough in the city centre.

The pastor who prayed at his bedside as the 54-year-old died said he and the victim’s family were furious and believed the killing was an “avoidable death”.

Mr O’Connell, who “dreamt of travelling the world” had been sleeping rough in Brighton for about a month before he was killed on August 8. His attacker, Sergio Lemori, took a concrete slab in a handbag with him to Royal Pavilion Gardens where he had bedded down for the night in a porch. It was then dropped on to Mr O’Connell’s head in an attack caught on CCTV.

His daughter Tara said: “As a family we are heartbroken. We will never be the same again. Our children have been robbed of the chance to know their grandfather.”

The Argus: