THE body of a man has been found at a waste recycling centre after he apparently climbed into a bin after a night out drinking.

Police have named the victim as 28-year-old Jay McLaren who was reported missing by his family on Saturday, after he failed to return to his home in the Hylton Castle area of Sunderland.

He had been on a night out in the city centre the previous evening.

Northumbria Police said his body was found at a recycling site, at Sedgeletch, Houghton-le-Spring, at 9.40pm on Christmas Eve.

Officers are continuing to make inquiries and have appealed for information from revellers to help trace his movements in the early hours of Saturday.

The last confirmed sighting of him was outside the Arizona and Purple bars in the Holmeside and Park Lane area of the city centre at 4.15am on Saturday.

A police statement said there appears to have been “no third-party involvement”, but officers investigating Mr McLaren’s death are still keen to discover his movements after that sighting.

He is understood to have been taken to the recycling plant after entering a bin that was later collected at some stage early on Saturday.

Mr McLaren’s family, of Hadleigh Road, are being supported by specialist officers in the wake of their son’s death.

But they have sent a message to drinkers and partygoers to stay safe on a night out, particularly with New Year’s Eve approaching.

They have urged people enjoying a night out to stay together and to keep an eye out for friends they may be drinking with.

Described as the father of a two-year-old daughter, his fiancé put out a social media appeal for information over his whereabouts after he was reported missing at the weekend.

She is understood to have last been in contact with him shortly before 11pm on Friday.

Another appeal, posted on Saturday, said he was last seen wearing an elf jumper with a hood and black plimsolls.

He is understood to have worked in recent months as a machine adjustor at Washington packaging and print company Encore Envelopes.

Mr McLaren was also a popular player with Sunderland Sunday League (SSL) side run from the King’s Arms pub, at Deptford, of which he was club skipper.

Following confirmation of his death the league’s website posted the following tribute.

“We are absolutely devastated to announce the passing of Jay McLaren.

“All our thoughts are with Jay’s fiancée, daughter, family and friends at this extremely sad time.

“RIP Jay - you will never be forgotten.”

The league subsequently said it would be donating all entry fees to its Total Sport Challenge Cup, plus all money raised at all of this season’s cup finals to Mr McLaren’s fiancé and family.

In other comments, team-mate Scott Dalton posted: “Great gesture, a top lad and a pleasure to have played football with. RIP mate.”

Anthony Gair said: “A committed, inspiring captain of the King’s Arms.

“He’ll be missed massively. Thank you for this amazing gesture, for it is that, amazing.”

Casey King said: “I’m sure I speak on behalf of all of the King’s Arms, and everyone involved in Sunday League, when I say that is an amazing gesture.

“Thank you for your support."

Another team-mate, Luke Wrightson, said: “RIP Mac, we will never ever forget you buddy.

“You will always be our skipper.”

John Lunn added: “Excellent gesture. Was a great character and, more importantly, a nice genuine human being.

“Will be missed by all.”

Jake Smith said: “He was a great captain for the club and a great lad. RIP Jay pal, you'll be a big miss."

Jamie Prater: “Great stuff! Absolute top bloke and would do anything for our team, he’ll be a huge miss to everyone. RIP Jay mate."

Paul Tunstall said: “Thank you SSL. Fantastic gesture.

“Jay was our captain and great lad too. He loved his football, his passion and leadership will be sorely missed. RIP Mac!"

The case bears similarity to that of missing RAF gunner Corrie McKeague, who was believed by Suffolk Police to have climbed into a bin after a night out in Bury St Edmunds in September 2016.

Two lengthy searches of a nearby landfill site failed to find the missing man's body.

Mr McKeague's mother, Nicola Urqhart, said she was confident that if her son was in the landfill, the search team would have found him. She also said she did not believe her son would have climbed into a bin.

Police said the investigation into Mr McKeague's disappearance would remain open.

  • Anyone who believes they may have seen or spoken to Mr McLaren in the early hours of Saturday, December 23, are asked to contact police, using the 101 line, quoting reference number 1205 231217.
  • The Northern Echo is aware there are pictures of Mr McLaren on other news sites. We will not be using them at the request of his family.