Reece Hillier inquest: Father-of-one died handcuffed in Southampton river

Reece Hillier had been stopped for jumping a red traffic light in his car.

The inquest heard that when Pc Aimie Franklin, of Hampshire Police, opened the door of the Honda Civic after Mr Hillier pulled over in a McDonald's car park, she smelled cannabis and Mr Hillier agreed to be put in handcuffs.

As she called for back-up, the 22-year old managed to escape across a road, jumped over a wall, down a four metre drop into undergrowth and then fled across a railway line.

The father of one’s body was not discovered until nine weeks later when it was recovered from a nearby river - still wearing handcuffs.

The court heard that Mr Hillier may have entered the water to try to throw pursuing police dogs off his scent.

Mr Hiller’s family said they were "haunted" by the fact that he had lain in the water for so long without being found.

Yesterday, at an inquest in Winchester, his death was ruled an accident and “a result of his own actions.”

His family said they were “heartbroken” and that at no point in the two months following Mr Hillier’s disappearance did the police “show any interest” in allowing them to report him missing.

Mr Hillier was initially stopped by police on January 12.

He was not found until March 17, when a fisherman who was magnet fishing in the River Itchen caught his line on Mr Hillier’s body.

Coroner Grahame Short said: “I cannot determine where Mr Hillier went once on the other side of the railway tracks. The search of the university campus grounds that were on that side of the railway was fruitless.”

Mr Short continued: “I cannot say why he tried to enter the water, whether he fell in or tried to cross the water to mask his scent from the police dogs, which he may have known were chasing him.”

“I am sure that he made that decision because he knew he knew he was being pursued by the police... The reason he ended up in the water was due to his own actions.”

Mr Short found that the police had made enquiries in the weeks following Mr Hillier’s escape and the fact that he was recorded as missing, rather than wanted, had no “practical” effect on the outcome.

Detective Inspector Kate Gunson who led the investigation admitted a missing persons report was “regretfully” not made and that two offices had since been given additional training.

She said:“Two officers have had additional training as a result of this incident.

“It was, and is , force policy that if a family member wants to report someone as missing then a missing persons report should be made, regardless of they were a wanted suspect or not.

“Regretfully it appears this did not happen on this occasion.”

A statement made by Mr Hiller’s family read: “Reece was an energetic and lively character from childhood to adulthood.

"His personality could light up a room. Always dancing and singing, he loved music and was very talented.

“As Reece got older he made some poor life choices but he had a good heart.

“His decision to try and escape the police cost him his life and it broke all our families hearts.

“The fact Reece lay undiscovered for 9 weeks will haunt us forever.”

“At no point in the nine weeks did the police show any interest in allowing us to report him missing. Reece has left behind a young son and a heartbroken family.”