Woman, 66, quizzed over murder mystery of missing garage man

Gary Hampson, 42, disappeared four months ago after he picked up his 10-year-old daughter from school in Brighton and dropped her at home on Thursday, January 6.

Unusually, he failed to contact his daughter for her recent birthday, and his mobile phone has been switched off since January 9.

Despite searches at properties in Brighton and Hove, and inquiries made by police with his friends and associates, a body has so far not been found.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said the woman was arrested yesterday morning and taken to Brighton Custody Centre for questioning. A search and forensic examination of her Brighton home is being carried out.

The murder inquiry was launched after Mr Hampson’s blood was found at the Kop Cars Body Shop garage where he worked in Little Western Street, Brighton.

Relatives said they have found it extremely difficult not knowing what happened to Mr Hampson, who was described as a “devoted father and well-liked local character”.

Mr Hampson, who lived in Old Shoreham Road, Portslade, has links to Liverpool and the St Helens area of Merseyside.

Police said the search for his body has now been extended into the area north of Cowfold and is concentrated primarily along the A281 corridor to the Sussex/Surrey border.

Det Chief Insp Jeff Riley, who is leading the major crime branch inquiry, said: “This is a very active investigation and my team and I are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry.

“We are determined to find Gary’s body and the process of searching has to be carefully planned and a scientific approach taken to ensure that the most likely locations are properly identified and then are subject to a detailed and methodical search.”

The arrest follows the charging of two men over the murder.

Daniel Alexander, 61, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He has also been charged with robbery, attempted robbery and grievous bodily harm.

Roy Bartup, 67, of Natal Road, Brighton, has been charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice. Both men are due to appear at Lewes Crown Court for a plea hearing on July 28.