A worker discovered the “bloodied” dead body of a rough sleeper in a town centre car park stairwell, a court has heard.

The body of Martin Dines was found on the sixth floor of a stairwell of St Mary’s car park, Colchester, by Robbie Bennett, a technical officer with the North Essex Parking Partnership.

Heidi Kennedy, 47, Darren Miller, 46, and Mark Hartley, 32, are on trial for Mr Dines’ murder.

At Ipswich Crown Court this morning, the jury were read extracts of Mr Bennett’s statement, which was given to Essex Police on the day the body was found, on April 23.

Simon Spence, prosecuting, told the court Mr Bennett arrived at the car park at around 8.30am on April 23 to complete some general maintenance work.

In his statement, Mr Bennett said the first time he passed Mr Dines’ body he believed it was just a rough sleeper who had “bedded down for the night” – what he said was a common occurrence in St Mary’s car park.

Mr Bennett’s statement said: “I did not notice anything else on my first walk upstairs and past him.

“I noticed no smell except the usual one associated with a rough sleeper.

“The two arms were out to each side and I could see the hands which were not clenched.

“There was nothing to draw my attention.”

After visiting the sixth floor to do some repair work to a ticket machine, Mr Bennett returned to where he thought the individual was sleeping.

The statement continued: “As I walked down the stairs I had a better view and I came down near to the victim’s head.

READ MORE: The fatal final 12 hours of rough sleeper Martin Dines' life

“This time I saw his hands again and noticed there was dried blood on the wall.”

He added: “Then I realised it was more serious than I thought.”

Mr Bennett lifted the blanket covering Mr Dines and discovered him lying in what he described as a “not natural” position.

He said: “I saw blood in his right ear, which is the one with a missing lobe.

“I did not know where the blood came from.

“His right eye was swollen but there was not much bruising.

“His hands were extensively bloodied, and I looked towards the stairs and saw more blood.

“Although I have no experience of dead bodies, his position was not natural and not like someone sleeping. There was no movement in his chest.”

The jury also heard a recording of the 999 call from Mr Bennett to the emergency services, which was made just after he discovered the body.

On Monday, the court heard tests have shown Mr Dines was found with 73 separate external injuries mainly relating to his face, fractured ribs and a horrific injury to his genitals while an expert concluded he had also suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Heidi Kennedy, 47, Darren Miller, 46, and Mark Hartley, 32, are standing trial for Mr Dines’ murder.

Kennedy, of Queen Elizabeth Way, Colchester, Miller, of no fixed address, and Hartley, of New Kiln Road, Colchester, all deny murder.

But Miller has admitted to Mr Dines' manslaughter while Kennedy has admitted an assault on a friend of Mr Dines - Lisa Peck - during the Crouch Street altercation.

Ms Peck was scheduled to give evidence on Thursday.

The trial, which is expected to last five weeks, continues.