DETECTIVES are not looking for anyone else for the murder of disabled Deborah Wilkes after their only suspect killed himself.

Leslie Stubbs had been awaiting trial at Stafford Crown Court after being charged with the 49-year-old's murder.

But the 52-year-old cut his throat in prison on Sunday and died in hospital on Monday.

Staffordshire Police have now told Deborah's family they are not re-opening the inquiry.

A spokesman said: "We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the murder of Deborah Wilkes.

"Her family is aware of this and is satisfied that no-one else was involved in her death."

Stubbs had been arrested soon after Deborah's body was discovered at her Shirley Street home, in Leek, in August 2009.

He was charged with her murder within days and remanded in custody.

The Sentinel was in court for the first hearing at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court in August 2009 and following Stubbs's death we can now reveal details of the case.

The court heard how mum-of-three Deborah, who had lived alone in Shirley Street for years, had last been seen by one of her daughters on Saturday, August 22, 2009.

At about the same time Stubbs, who likened Deborah, below, to his former partner, was in Leek's Wellington Inn with a rucksack and a duvet.

It is claimed Stubbs went to Deborah's house on the Saturday night.

Prosecutor Philip Beardwell told North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court 12 months ago: "Between 1am and 4am on Sunday, August 23, Deborah's next-door neighbour Peter Turner heard noises from the house including a female voice saying 'calm down'.

"Witnesses saw Stubbs milling around throughout the Sunday afternoon carrying a vodka bottle. He was wearing Deborah Wilkes's slippers and her dog was loose."

The court heard neighbours later called one of Deborah's relatives who alerted family friend Tom Grundy.

Mr Beardwell added: "Mr Grundy opened the door to find her naked body in the hall.

"Four teeth had been knocked out and a cigarette had been stubbed out on the body. Two small fires had also been set."

The court heard that Stubbs left the house, went into neighbour Anthony Johnson's garden and asked Mr Johnson's son if he could use their toilet.

Mr Beardwell added: "Police arrested the defendant in Anthony Johnson's house.

"The defendant was found with a number of items of jewellery, including some belonging to Deborah Wilkes.

"He was wearing a pair of lady's underpants and had a can of Special Brew lager. The defendant is trying to assert he was a burglar."

The court also heard that Stubbs, of Picton Street, Leek, had been placed on suicide watch following his arrest.

It has also emerged that in April 2009 Stubbs had been handed a two-year suspended prison sentence and a supervision order for a burglary.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Probation Service, which oversaw the order, said: "Staffordshire Probation was successful in getting residential treatment and aftercare for Mr Stubbs to address his alcohol misuse problems."

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is investigating Stubbs's death.

A spokesman said: "As with all deaths in custody, the ombudsman will conduct an investigation and we will look to see if lessons can be learned once the investigation is completed."

Deborah had worked as a nurse and sister at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire before developing Huntington's disease.

She was estranged to her husband Eddie Wilkes, of Leek. They had twin daughters, Jessica and Harriet, and younger daughter Rosie. She also had two grandchildren.

Stubbs's mother, Patricia Stubbs, of Kingsley Holt, today declined to comment on her son's death.