Man being questioned after woman found dead at her home in Leek

A 32-YEAR-OLD man was today being questioned on suspicion of murder following the death of a woman at her home.

The semi-detached house remained cordoned off throughout last night as scenes of crime officers combed the property for clues.

Family liaison specialists were said to be comforting the relatives of the woman, who is aged in her 40s but has not been formally identified.

Officers believe the incident to be domestic-related although no details were released last night as to how she died.

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A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out today.

Emergency services were called to the property in Ladderedge, Leek, at 11.30am yesterday, following reports of the death.

A silver BMW sports car remained on the driveway of the house yesterday as police carried out door-to-door inquiries and spoke to neighbours.

Forensics teams were seen examining the house and the back garden.

Arthur Scragg, aged 70, who lives opposite, said he had known the woman for around 10 years.

He said: “She used to live next door but she moved and had been living across the road for the last year or so.

“We would always wave and say hello to her whenever we saw her and she was a very nice and polite lady.

“She’d often go out walking her dog and she always said she would never move away from this area.

“Her mum was in a supermarket in Leek in the morning and she seemed fine. I don’t think she knew anything was wrong at that point.”

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “The police knocked on my door and asked me if I had seen or heard anything but the first I knew about it was when all the police cars turned up.

“I didn’t know the woman that well but I used to wave to her if I saw her outside or going out in her car. It’s come as a complete shock.”

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: “The woman, who is believed to have lived at the address and be aged in her 40s, was, sadly, pronounced dead at the scene.

“The man was arrested in Leek on suspicion of murder and was taken to the Northern Area Custody Facility in Etruria for questioning.

“Although inquiries are at an early stage, officers believe the incident to be domestic-related.”

Paramedics were called to the scene where they confirmed the death of the woman.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “When the crew arrived they found a woman in cardiac arrest.

“Sadly, it quickly became apparent that nothing could be done to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene.”

Anyone with information about the woman’s death is asked to contact Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 229 of September 6.