A DETECTIVE sergeant has died after falling from the fourth floor of Folkestone Police Station. Colleagues found 40-year-old Brian Bennett, from Hythe, on the ground next to the headquarters of south east Kent police in Bouverie Road West.

He was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford where he died from his injuries. An investigation has been launched but police spokesman Mark Pugash said the circumstances surrounding Det Sgt Bennett's death were not being treated as suspicious. The Folkestone coroner has been informed and an inquest will be held.

One of Det Sgt Bennett's colleagues described the loss as "unbelievable" and said he was "a truly lovely guy".

Det Sgt Bennett's death was the second shock at Folkestone police station in the same week. Two officers were suspended pending an investigation into serious but unspecified allegations.

Police HQ spokesman Shauna Hemmingway said: "We don't release names of people before they are charged. These could be false allegations."