Body found in shipping crate in Staffordshire identified as Afghan teenager

Khalid Sorki, who is aged either 16 or 17, was named by Staffordshire Police after DNA from his body was compared with his parents

The bodies were found because of a smell coming from the crates (Getty)

An Afghan teenager found dead in a shipping container in Staffordshire after trying to flee to Britain has been identified.

Khalid Sorki, aged 16 or 17, was found inside a crate of boilers alongside another man last November.

Police managed to identify him by comparing DNA from his body to samples taken from his parents after an international search.

They revealed yesterday that he came from the war-torn Turkmen Valley area of Afghanistan, which is controlled by the Taliban.

The police said arrangements are being made to repatriate his body, with “the generous support and funding of the Afghanistan community”.

The crate had arrived in the UK from northern Italy in early October, as part of a consignment of commercial boilers.

The bodies were later uncovered by staff at heating company Ferroli Ltd in Branston, Staffordshire on November 17 due to the smell coming from the crates.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Giles of Staffordshire Police, said: "We extend our condolences to Khalid's family. It is tragic that they lost a young member of their family in such circumstances although we are pleased to have been able to provide them with some answers as to what had happened to him.

"Khalid was identified through comparing DNA samples provided by his parents with his DNA profile.

"He is believed to be 16 or 17 years old. We will never know his exact age as in Afghanistan dates of birth do not hold the same significance as they do here."

He added that progress was being made in the investigation to formally identify the second male found in the crate.