Man died after being ‘basically left’ in Eastbourne hotel

A 60-year-old vulnerable man who died in an Eastbourne hotel “didn’t stand a chance” after being relocated from Brighton, an inquest heard. 

Daniel Ginsberg, a former rail worker, was placed in The Ellesmere in Wilmington Square in January this year by Brighton & Hove City Council as emergency accommodation.  

His body was found on 6 May after a neighbour complained of the smell. Hotel staff said he was reclusive and they had not seen him for about three weeks. 

East Sussex coroner Fiona King reached an open conclusion but observed that, after a housing officer had explored all possible options, Daniel “was basically left” as his needs were too great for supported accommodation. 

'Danny was fun, chatty and cheerful'

Debbie Jagniaszek, who had known Daniel since 1996 when they worked on the railways together, spoke of his background in a statement read at the inquest in Lewes on Tuesday (21 October). 

She said he had a twin brother Ashley. Their mother, who suffered from mental health problems, left the family home and had died in a house fire when they were young men. Their father was violent and they were scared of him. 

Debbie said: “Danny was fun, chatty, cheerful but totally unreliable. Living in a house in Portslade run by the YMCA, he had the support he needed.” 

She said many of her calls to him were unanswered but she thought he would call when he was ready. “Everything, all his friends were in Brighton. In Eastbourne, alone, he didn’t stand a chance,” she said. 

Secure accommodation sold off

The inquest heard that Daniel had lived in supported accommodation at the YMCA in Portslade for ten years until 2023 when the building was sold. Everyone living there had to apply to Brighton and Hove City Council for housing. 

Dina Bouggeurache, homelessness prevention officer, was Daniel’s housing advice officer when he had to leave the YMCA.  

She told the inquest Daniel had been placed in interim accommodation in Brighton but was evicted in September 2024 for smoking in his room. 

He was then placed at another site in Grand Parade, Brighton, but was evicted in January 2025 for “allowing visitors”. However, it transpired he was exploited by people who used his room for illicit activities in a practice known as ‘cuckooing’, not deemed to be his fault. 

Ms Bouggeurache told the inquest it was thought Daniel needed sheltered accommodation but he was deemed to be at risk of ‘cuckooing’ again and that his needs were too high. 

She believed a residential care home arranged through adult social care would have been the most suitable option for him. Daniel had never been in the care of Brighton & Hove adult social care. 

Moved to Eastbourne

He was moved to Eastbourne in January 2025 and she sent an online referral to East Sussex County Council’s (ESCC) adult social care team to complete an assessment. 

In March, she was told they had difficulty in contacting Daniel, who had no phone, and asked for more information about his needs. She said there were concerns about self-neglect, alcoholism and management of his Type 2 diabetes. 

In April, Ms Bouggeurache continued to follow up with ESCC and ask about updates and if he had been assigned a social worker.  

The homelessness officer explained that housing Daniel remained the responsibility of Brighton & Hove while the ‘duty of care’ via adult social care was in Eastbourne.

The coroner asked her if she could have said: “bring him back to Brighton”. Ms Bouggeurache replied that would not have been possible due to lack of availability and because he had been evicted from the two other placements. 

Daniel was also placed out of the Brighton area for his own safety because money had been stolen from him in the city by the street community. 

Ms Bouggeurache said it was not necessarily part of her role to travel to visit him, as long as she had all the information required to do referrals, which she was awaiting action on.

Open verdict

Ms King asked if The Ellesmere was a safe place for vulnerable people. Ms Bouggeurache said it was suitable for Daniel’s mobility needs but she had concerns because of his self-neglect, which is why she tried to find support for him. 

Ms King asked Ms Bouggeurache was there was anything she would have changed about Daniel’s case. She said if she had been his homelessness officer at the time, she would have referred him to adult social care in Brighton & Hove. 

The cause of death could not be ascertained due to the decomposition of the body.  

The coroner reached an open conclusion because the cause of death was not clear. 

She also noted: “The hotel management had not been concerned to check on his welfare.” 

:: An inquest also took place into the death of landscape gardener Stephen Carr, who was staying at The Ellesmere as temporary accommodation. Read my full report here.