A TEENAGER whose remains were found in woodland near Yarmouth had been tied to a tree and set on fire after being forced to drink petrol, a post mortem examination has revealed.

A TEENAGER whose remains were found in woodland near Yarmouth had been tied to a tree and set on fire after being forced to drink petrol, a post mortem examination has revealed.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Strong said the results of the post mortem confirmed that Yarmouth College student Simon Everitt, 17, had been taken against his will to the village of Mautby where he was subjected to the attack.

At a press conference at which Simon's father and step-mother pleaded for witnesses to come forward, Det Chief Insp Strong said: “Simon was made to drink petrol and the conclusion of the post mortem is that the cause of death was the inhalation of a combustible fluid.”

He said Simon's body had then been buried in a ditch and covered with soil.

Chief Insp Strong said: “I would appeal for anyone with information to come forward. In particular, we are keen to hear from anyone who might have seen people acting suspiciously or spotted vehicles or cycles in the area of Church Lane, Corton, on June 7, or at Church Farm, Mautby, on June 7 or 8.”

Simon's father Vince, who set up a special website to help in the search for his son, thanked everyone who had sent kind messages of support.

Reiterating Chief Insp Strong's appeal, he said: “Anyone who thinks they have got any information, however daft it might sound, please come forward and tell the police. We have to make sure this never happens to anyone again.”

His step-mother Sue said: “No one deserves to die like this. This could have been anyone's kid out there. Someone must know something.”

- Earlier yesterday Jimi Lee Stewart, 24, of Nelson Road Central, Yarmouth, became the third person to be remanded in custody by the town's magistrates accused of murdering Simon.

He will next appear at Norwich Crown Court on July 14 alongside Maria Chandler, 40, of Lancaster Road, Yarmouth, and Johnathan Clarke, 19, of Queen Elizabeth Way, Telford, Shropshire, and formerly of Nelson Road South, Yarmouth, who were charged with murder and remanded in custody earlier in the week.