Detectives investigating the murder of a man found in a shallow grave believe he carried out burglaries on an exclusive Sussex estate.

Lee Horrell's body was found at a beauty spot in the Forest of Bere, near Fareham, Hampshire, in December.

Mr Horrell has been linked with at least two raids on large detached homes in Kingston Gorse, East Preston.

The 24-year-old builder from Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hants, was working on the estate at the time of the burglaries.

Victims are now being told by police that they believe Mr Horrell was to blame.

Sussex Police spokesman Nick Sandford said: "Hampshire police have liaised fully with us about the possibility that Mr Horrell was involved in these break-ins in Kingston Gorse.

"As far as I understand it, Hampshire Police have spoken to the victims about the burglaries. We have handed it all over to Hampshire, who feel there was a connection.

"Hampshire have taken these burglaries into consideration with regards to their murder inquiry."

Mr Horrell disappeared shortly before he was due to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on a burglary charge.

It is believed property found at his flat linked him to the burglaries in Sussex.

A Hampshire Police spokeswoman said: "Because investigations into the death of Mr Horrell are on-going we cannot comment either way on the matter of property recovered, but we are still looking into things in his flat."

Detectives are investigating the possibility that he was killed after falling out with associates in the criminal underworld.