Plea for cell coma man witnesses

Mr Reynolds remains seriously ill in hospital

Independent investigators have appealed for help to discover how a man was found in a coma in a police cell.

Garry Reynolds 39, from Southwick, suffered serious brain injuries after an evening at a private party at a public house in Kemp Town, Brighton.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) took full control of the inquiry from Sussex Police following a High Court ruling.

It wants to hear from people who were in Eastern Road early on 2 March.

Judgement appeal

However, the IPCC is planning to appeal against the High Court judicial review judgment to remove Sussex Police from the investigation.

IPCC acting deputy chairman Ian Bynoe said it wants to clarify its "functions" and "obligations" in the case.

The judicial review was requested by Mr Reynolds' family.

Mr Reynolds is believed to have been in Eastern Road, between Arundel Road and Sussex Gardens, from about 0030 to 0200 GMT.

The IPCC has appealed for anybody who was driving or walking along Eastern Road, or looking out from their home to contact them.

They hope to hear from people who saw a man in a long, dark coat trying to stop passing cars.

Mr Bynoe said: "We believe that the man was Garry Reynolds.

Police investigated

"Tracing his movements is essential as part of the investigation into how he sustained serious injuries that night."

The IPCC is also making separate inquiries into claims by witnesses that officers in a police car had stopped in the area.

Mr Reynolds was picked up by a taxi driver in Eastern Road, Brighton, at about 0150 GMT.

At about 0235 GMT the taxi driver stopped his vehicle in West Street to ask for help from police officers on duty there.

Mr Reynolds was handcuffed and put in a cell in Brighton Custody Centre.

However, at 1100 GMT on 2 March police called an ambulance as Mr Reynolds "could not be woken up and was in a coma".

He was taken to hospital where he remains seriously ill.