A HOMELESS campaigner chalked a message outside Worcester’s Guildhall to mark the fourth anniversary of the death of a rough sleeper found partially mummified in his tent.

The protest was in memory of Cardon Banfield, 74, who was found dead by a cricket club steward after he was told about a smell coming from a tent near Worcestershire County Cricket Club in July 2016.
The protest was led by Hugo Sugg, who also set up the campaign Justice For Cardon following his death.

The fourth anniversary of Mr Banfield’s death was on July 5, 2020. However, Mr Sugg led the demonstration on Wednesday (September 16) after he returned from Turkey.

Mr Sugg, from Worcester, protested in the same spot last year in memory of Mr Banfield. He said he returned to the city’s Guildhall this year to “shock” the council.

He added: “And to remind them I’m not going away and this will linger forever.”

Mr Sugg told the Worcester News the protest was “very quick and spontaneous.”

He said: “Crowds were watching as I was doing it, and afterwards many stopped and took pictures. “Apparently, it was washed off less than an hour later. As for impact, it has an immediate impact which is them washing it off as fast as possible. Medium term by the negativity it brings and long term because they still haven’t changed things.”

Mr Sugg shared on Facebook: “It’s been over four years since the death of Cardon Banfield in Worcester. We still don’t have the answers as to how he and five other rough sleepers were found dead since 2016. Today I chalked outside Worcester’s Guildhall highlighting the failures.”

A Worcester City Council spokesman said: “An investigation in to the deaths of rough sleepers is currently being undertaken by the Worcestershire Adult Safeguarding Board.

"It would be inappropriate to comment until the Board has published its report, findings and recommendations.”

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