A HOMELESS man whose body was found at a Wirral recycling plant died from injuries sustained during a 'horrific' accident, an inquest concluded today.

John Bassett, 50, was pronounced dead at B&M Waste Services in Dock Road South, Bromborough on the morning of September 5, 2012.

The discovery was made after a wagon was emptied at the site, an inquest in Liverpool heard.

A post-mortem conducted by Home Office forensic pathologist Richard Shepherd gave the cause of death as severe blunt head injury and mixed drug intoxication.

It is believed Mr Bassett had climbed into the bin while it was at the Cherry Tree shopping centre in Liscard to sleep the previous evening, acting Wirral coroner Andre Rebello told the inquest jury of six women and five men.

During the two-day hearing, the court heard from wagon driver Stephen Smith who had picked the bin up from the shopping centre. He said he had seen nothing unusual when he had tipped out the contents.

But as he was about to head out after tipping in Bromborough he had a call from B&M staff to say a body had been found in the load.

A toxicology examination found Mr Bassett also had levels of methadone and other prescription drugs.

After almost two hours of deliberation the jury reached their conclusion that Mr Bassett had climbed into a skip which had been "inadequately secured" at the Cherry Tree Centre.

They added that it was during the sorting process he "sustained extensive fracturing of the skull which proved fatal". The injuries were caused by a mechanical grabber in the wagon.

Mr Rebello apologised to Mr Bassett’s family for delays which meant the hearing was taking place more than two years after his death.

At the time of death Mr Bassett, originally from Liverpool but who had lived in Wallasey, was said to be of no fixed address, although his family said he had only been without a home for two weeks.

The inquest also heard from the Cherry Tree shopping centre manager, John White, who said Mr Bassett had been found “intoxicated” in the baby changing rooms, and had also been found using the women’s toilets as a “washroom” and banned from the centre.

Mr White said he had never been aware of any issues with people sleeping rough in the bins, which were locked each evening, but admitted the plastic lids could be forced open.

Cherry Tree centre security and cleaning supervisor David Robson, however, was warned his evidence contradicted his earlier statements to the police and Health and Safety Executive.

He had initially said he had seen a man who was apparently sleeping in one of the bins.

When shown a photo of Mr Bassett he had told police he was positive it was the same man who got out of a skip a couple of weeks ago.

Paying tribute to her brother-in-law, Janet Bassett told the court: “He was very clean, always had the best clothes on. He kept himself clean and tidy.

"He was a fun-loving person, a good artist and loved playing the guitar. I last saw him about six weeks before the tragedy and he looked fine."

Addressing Mr Bassett’s family, coroner Andre Rebello said: "The nature of his death was horrific. The trauma caused to his family has been aggravated by the delay in the inquest process. It should have been dealt with sooner.

"Celebrate his life, respect his humanity and share his dignity in death.

"Store up the love you have for him, as it's the only fitting memorial."