THE death of teenager Christopher Hartley, whose headless corpse was found in a Blackpool dustbin, is the third tragedy to strike his family, a friend has revealed.

Chopped-up remains of the 17-year-old were discovered in a Puma sports bag behind the New Central Hotel, Reads Avenue, at lunchtime on December 30.

His devastated parents Jean and Phil were too upset to talk at their Burnley home, but neighbour Jean Fallows told the Citizen that the Hartleys had already lost one child to cot-death syndrome 20 years ago and recently Christopher and his girlfriend lost their own baby through miscarriage.

"This has brought back a lot of bad memories for Jean and Phil," said Mrs Fallows.

"They have not slept or eaten since it happened. It's bad enough knowing your son has been killed, but the gruesome way Chris was found makes it even worse. Whoever did this is sick."

Christopher came to Blackpool, where he has a brother and sister, with his girlfriend around eight months ago to look for work.

But the couple split up when she failed to settle.

He lived at various addresses, finding summer work on the Golden Mile.

He phoned his parents on Christmas Day to say he would be home on New Year's Day.

His Christmas present, a jacket, remains unopened at the Hartleys' home.

Police still need the public's help.

Despite an 80-strong investigation team working round the clock, detectives have yet to find his head, his clothes (particularly his Reebok Classic trainers - white with a blue flash, size six or seven), or the place where where his body was dismembered - likely to have been heavily blood-stained, as would a vehicle used to transport it.

They have also yet to determine the cause of death.

Traces of heroin were found in his body but final toxicology results are not expected until tomorrow (Friday).

However, he was not thought to be an habitual drug-abuser.

Detectives are today hoping to produce replicas of his wallet and earring, with a distinctive Fila logo.

He was last seen walking in Reads Avenue at 2.30am on the day his body was found.

Acting Det Supt Paul Buschini, in charge of the case, called in a psychological profiler as well as dogs trained to sniff out bodies, as officers continued widespread house-to-house inquiries and interviews with Christopher's friends and associates.

"He was a normal teenager," said Mr Buschini, "perhaps some might describe him as a bit of a Jack-the-lad, but he was not a bad lad and he certainly didn't deserve what happened to him."

Anyone with any information, especially those walking in the Reads Avenue/Livingston Road area between 3am and 6am on December 30, should contact Blackpool police on 293933, or the free confidential CrimeStoppers line on (0800) 555111.

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