THE ex-wife of Tony Adams, the former England and Arsenal footballer, has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a dead woman was found in the back of her car.

Police on routine patrol saw the body in the back of Jane Shea’s black BMW while she was driving in Fulham, southwest London, on Monday night. She and an unidentified male companion were arrested and questioned at a nearby police station. Shea has been bailed until today while the man was bailed until late next month.

The woman was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. It is believed that she died of an overdose rather than foul play. A post-mortem examination at Horseferry Road mortuary was expected to be completed yesterday.

She was named locally as Teresa Tuppen, 44, of Fulham, southwest London.

Her husband, Keith, refused to comment yesterday other than to say that he was “devastated” by his wife’s death. The couple are thought to have a 15-year-old daughter.

Neighbours said that Miss Tuppen was a drug user and occasional dealer. One woman said: “Teresa has had a drug problem for a long time.

“She may have been a drug addict, but she was not a nasty person. It’s all so tragic.

“I know that Teresa used to sell drugs from time to time, but there was no way she was a major drugs dealer.”

Another neighbour said: “There are always people coming and going from that house.”

Police searched Shea’s home in Putney, southwest London. A man who answered the door of her ground floor flat, refused to answer questions and said “no” when asked if she was available.

Adams, 37, the manager of Wycombe Wanderers, was said to be “devastated” by the arrest of his former wife.

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