Suicide spot woman, 56, arrested for murder

The 56-year-old, named locally as Sally Challen, was persuaded to leave the clifftop at Beachy Head, in East Sussex, by police officers after two hours.

It is alleged she told officers on the 500ft cliff that she had killed her partner, named by neighbours as Richard Challen.

He was found dead by officers from Surrey Police just after 1pm on Sunday in the home they once shared in Ruxley Ridge, Claygate, near Esher. Mrs Challen had already driven the 70 miles to Beachy Head.

The couple, who have two sons, are understood to have split up around a year ago.

A post mortem examination to establish the cause of Mr Challen's death was taking place at the Royal Surrey County Hospital yesterday.

Mr Challen sold his car dealership, Westlake Garages in Richmond, south-west London, to Paul Arulndran when he retired in August 2008.

Mr Arulndran said: "It's a big shock. He was a very good man. I only met her twice, but he would come in all the time to see how I was getting on.

"I did not know much about selling cars when I took it on but he would come in and help me. We had a very friendly relationship."

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the couple had been experiencing financial problems.

"They separated about a year ago and she moved just around the corner. The rumour was that he was seeing prostitutes and that is why she left him.

"They have two sons. The older one lived with Richard and the younger one lived with her."

Mr Challen received a 51-week prison term suspended for 18 months in 2006 when he crashed his Ferrari at a racetrack in Belgium, then invented a hit-and-run accident to claim 35,000 for repairs.