New police probe into cement mixer death

Grant Prior 15 years ago
Share

Police in Essex and Kent are to reinvestigate the death of a man whose body was found in a cement mixer lorry eight years ago.

Driver Lee Balkwell, 33, from Hornchurch, was found in a mechanism under the drum of the concrete mixer lorry in July 2002.

An inquest found his death was a result of unlawful killing through gross negligence.

Police ruled that Balkwell was the victim of a freak accident as he cleaned the lorry’s mixing drum.

But his father Les, a retired engineer, has long suspected murder and has accused police of a cover-up.

West Midlands Police have reviewed the case and recommended that Essex Police reinvestigate.

The details of the West Midlands report will not be released while investigations are carried out, Essex Police said.

A number of complaints against Essex Police officers involved in the original inquiry into the death are being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

A team led by temporary Det Ch Supt Lee Catling of the Kent and Essex Joint Serious and Organised Crime Directorate will now conclude the investigative work carried out by West Midlands Police.

“Essex Police continues to keep an open mind on the cause of Lee Balkwell’s death,” a police statement said.

“The West Midlands report recommends particular investigative actions to be taken, disclosure of which could be prejudiced by making the report public.”

An inquiry by the Health and Safety Executive has been suspended pending the conclusion of the police investigation.

Latest news

Hill hits record £90m profit as homes pipeline swells

Build-to-rent push and £4.8bn contracting book to fuel next growth phase
14 hours ago

Rayner unveils £39bn plan to build 300,000 social homes

Council building revival and rent reform feature in social and affordable homes plan
21 hours ago

Keltbray bounces back with £3.2m profit

Tighter controls and smarter project selection fuel strong turnaround
21 hours ago

VINCI JV wins 500-home twin town centre revamps

Chester Northgate phase 2 and Northwich Weaver Square schemes move to delivery stage
21 hours ago

80 energy projects unlocked as Ofgem backs grid expansion

£24bn energy networks deal gets green light from regulator
2 days ago

How to see your stories on the Enquirer

Join our Suppliers and Buyers directory to get your news published
21 hours ago

Henley lands Midland Mill revamp on Leeds tower scheme

Restoration of 18th-century mill kicks off on South Bank regeneration project
21 hours ago

New boss at Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Gavin Hulme takes top job as Diane Bourne moves to group role
1 day ago

Pinewood submits £1bn data centre plan

Studio giant adds green and learning spaces to tech hub blueprint
2 days ago

Record results after TClarke goes private

Britain's biggest M&E contractor flourishes after de-listing
2 days ago

Dalkia lands £200m nuclear maintenance deal

1,000 nuclear FM staff to join M&E contractor
2 days ago

Construction comeback to outpace wider economy

Arcadis forecast fueled by spending review optimism
3 days ago

First steel goes up on giant car battery site

Severfield gets to work on McAlpine Somerset site
3 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Bovis city tower

Facade specialist lands package at 60 Gracechurch Street
2 days ago

Fox buys recycled asphalt specialist Fisher

Acquisition adds major recycled asphalt capacity in north west
3 days ago

Major Building Safety Regulator shake-up to end tower delays

HSE stripped of control and top fire chiefs brought in to fast-track stalled schemes
3 days ago

Hinkley trio sign Sizewell civils deal

Balfour,Bouygues and Laing O'Rourke form Civil Works Alliance for new power station
3 days ago

£3.9bn data centre plan for Ravenscraig steelworks

Green energy to power massive new steel to silicon AI campus
3 days ago

Breakthrough on HS2’s second longest tunnel

8.4 mile Northolt to Old Oak Common drive completes
3 days ago

Neilcott on fast-track to debt-free employee ownership

£22.5m loan nearly paid down after big profit year
3 days ago

TfL kicks off race for £700m Tube station upgrade

South Kensington and Elephant & Castle top the pipeline list
3 days ago

Corbyn Plant Hire fleet goes under the hammer

Kit to be sold off by sister firm to collapsed groundworks contractor
3 days ago

Government wields procurement stick on late payment

New rules would block slow payers from bidding on big public jobs
6 days ago

Hercules buys power line labour firm for £15.7m

Labour supply specialist snaps up Advantage NRG to tap booming electricity upgrade market
6 days ago

Universal bid to fast-track planning for theme park

Entertainment giant eyes 2026 start at Bedford site
6 days ago

Developer Breck to transform former Ibstock brick factory

Ravenhead works to become 300-home development
6 days ago

SP Energy Networks awards contracts worth £1.4bn

First round of awards under £5.4bn national electricity grid upgrade programme
7 days ago

Travelodge to convert Liverpool Street office building

Office-to-hotel conversion in City of London
6 days ago

Plans lodged for 1m sq ft City of London office

Barbican landmark building will reuse 40% of existing structure
7 days ago

PTSG acquires roofing specialist HD Sharman Group

Premier Technical Services Group expands building maintenance division
6 days ago