A leading businesswoman has been stabbed to death in the country home that she shared with her husband and young children.

The body of Sally Sinclair, 40, head of business analysis at Vodafone, was found on Saturday evening at the detached property near Amport, in Hampshire. A 47-year-old man was in custody last night in connection with her death,

Officers were still carrying out forensic tests yesterday at the secluded property, where eight vehicles — including two high-powered sports cars — were parked in the drive.

Neighbours said that there had been a flurry of police action on Saturday evening in the quiet village, which dates back to the time of William the Conqueror. Police found Mrs Sinclair’s body at about 10pm. She was pronounced dead at the scene and her body was taken to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester. A post-mortem examination showed that she died from injuries to her upper body.

Villagers said that Mrs Sinclair’s husband, Alisdair, stayed at home to look after the couple’s sons, who are believed to be 10-year-old twins. They said that the family did not socialise with neighbours, adding that there was rarely activity at the house, which they were renting.

Mr Sinclair is understood to have traded in second-hand cars from the house. Eight vehicles, including two high-powered rally cars, a Subaru Impreza and a Mitsubishi Evo, were parked in the property’s drive.

John-James Lloyd, 28, a web-page designer who lives near by, said that he saw an ambulance drive to the house on Saturday at about 10pm. “I have never actually seen anyone at the house despite all the cars,” he said. “It’s as if the people who live there are very private or always on holiday because the curtains always seem to be drawn.”

Harry Wells, a local farmer, said that the family had been living there for about nine months, adding: “We drive past the house every day but I rarely saw any sign of life at all.”

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “I rarely saw the couple and much of the time the house looked deserted, but there are always a lot of cars outside. It’s a terrible shock to hear what has happened.”

Patrick Langdown, whose company Langdown Commercial owns the freehold to the property that Mrs Sinclair’s family was renting, said: “It is tragic. It is horrible. This is a new experience to us in a private quiet hamlet. My feelings are with the family and children.”

Matthew Brearley, human resources director of Vodafone UK, said that Mrs Sinclair had been with the company since 1994. He said: “Sally will be deeply missed by her colleagues here at Vodafone. Our sympathy goes out to Sally’s family and friends.”

Alan Smith, a spokesman for Hampshire Police, said: “Detectives investigating the death of a woman in Amport, near Andover, on Saturday continue to question a 47-year-old man who has been assisting with inquiries. The investigation team from the major crime department is also following up a number of other lines of inquiry to establish the circum-stances that led to the woman’s death.

“A post-mortem examination has revealed that the woman, 40-year-old Sally Sinclair, died as a result of injuries to her upper body.”

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