SERIOUS failings of Essex Police detectives during an investigation into a man found dead on a cement mixer can today be revealed.

Lee Balkwell, 33, was found dead, with his head and shoulders trapped between the drum and chassis of a cement mixer, nearly nine years ago.

No one was charged over the death, which was treated by officers as an industrial accident.

A damning report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, compiled in June 2009, but never made public, has now been revealed.

It states Lee’s clothing was destroyed before forensic examination, detectives failed to obtain any phone records or take statements from several key witnesses, and kept poor records of the investigation.

As the ninth anniversary of the death draws near, Lee’s campaigning dad, Les Balkwell, 64, is hoping continuing investigations by the commission and Essex and Kent Police serious crime directorate will finally uncover the truth.

Mr Balkwell said: “There were so many flaws identified in the investigation and reviews. We now need to get to the truth. It has been nearly nine years since Lee died and we are still not getting the answers.”

Eighteen senior officers, a number of whom worked on some of Essex’s most serious criminal cases, are being probed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission over their part in the investigations.

However, the report said there was no evidence to suggest corruption by officers.

Lee was allegedly cleaning the cement mixer in July 2002, for Simon Bromley, who ran Upminster Concrete from Baldwin’s Farm, in Dennises Lane, South Ockendon.

The report reveals concerns Mr Bromley, 42, who owned the cement mixer, was interviewed by detectives who were not knowledgeable enough about the workings of the machine to quiz him robustly enough, and officers formed the view too early it was an accident.

In September 2006, Mr Bromley was jailed for eight years for selling cocaine and a rifle to undercover police. Part of his defence was he turned to cocaine and alcohol following the death of “close friend” Lee in the mixer.

Following the June 2009 report, the IPCC recommended a senior investigating officer from an independent force re-investigate Lee’s death.

This led to a review of Essex Police’s handling of the case by West Midlands Police and 91 recommendations for improvements during its investigations.

The Kent and Essex Police serious crime directorate review of these recommendations is also set to be completed soon, while a separate investigation into the death is still underway.

Today, the commission is still looking into up to 95 complaints made by Mr Balkwell over the initial investigation and subsequent case reviews by Essex Police.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: “The investigation by the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate is on going. We have no guidance at this time as to when this may conclude.

The force was asked if any officers have been disciplined over the failings identified in the report.

The spokeswoman added: “An IPCC investigation is currently ongoing and we await the outcome.”

An IPCC spokesman said: “The investigation is being brought to a conclusion. I cannot give you a definitive timeline for this at this stage.”