Woman in her 50s is found dead at home in Kent

Pictured: Mother, 55, found dead at home in Kent as police arrest man in his 20s who was ‘known to victim’

  • Police and South East Coast Ambulance found body of Lesley Spearing
  • Officers were called to property in Rainham, Kent at 8.32pm yesterday
  • Man in 20s arrested on suspicion of murder was known to Ms Spearing  

Lesley Spearing was found dead yesterday evening at a property in Rainham, Kent

This is the first picture of a mother who was found dead at her home in Kent last night, before a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Officers and the South East Coast Ambulance discovered the body of 55-year-old Lesley Spearing after being called to a property in the Mierscourt Road area of Rainham at 8.32pm.

A man was arrested on suspicion of murder soon after on Rainham High Street. The man and Ms Spearing were known to each other, Kent Police said.

The man was in custody overnight and the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate launched a probe. Officers were at the scene overnight before being joined by a forensics team.

One neighbour said Ms Spearing was joking with her yesterday afternoon, just hours before her murder. Cherrill Retcliffe, 75, saw her at about 3pm.

She said: ‘I don’t go out much because I’ve just come out of hospital. The postman must know I’m always in because he always leaves everyone’s parcels.

Forensic officers at the scene of the murder in the Mierscourt Road area of Rainham today

Forensic officers at the scene of the murder in the Mierscourt Road area of Rainham today

Forensics in Rainham today

The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate launched a probe after the murder last night

Forensic officers leave the property in Rainham today as their investigations continue 

A team of forensic experts investigates today following the murder in Rainham last night

A team of forensic experts investigates today following the murder in Rainham last night

‘He said he was leaving a note for her to get it. I was surprised when she knocked because she doesn’t usually. They keep themselves to themselves.

‘When she knocked she knocked I said ‘right which ones yours’ as I had everyone’s post. She was laughing and smiling.

‘I gave her her parcel and off she went. I saw all the lights flashing then last night and have had the police round today. I couldn’t believe it when I heard. It’s terrible.’

A local, Maeleaigha Parrish, said on Facebook: ‘I saw the police helicopter flying really low over the houses on Sunderland Drive and landed on the green just behind.’

Posting in response to the news on the Kent Police Facebook page last night, Karen Veares added: ‘RIP to the poor lady, thinking of all her family and friends.’ 

Officers were at the scene overnight before being joined by a forensics team this morning

Officers were at the scene overnight before being joined by a forensics team this morning

The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate launched a probe after the murder last night

The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate launched a probe after the murder last night

The three-bedroom townhouse was sealed off today with forensic officers at the scene

The three-bedroom townhouse was sealed off today with forensic officers at the scene

Photographs taken early this morning at the scene showed two police officers standing next to the property with a Vauxhall Astra patrol car parked outside.

The modern end of terrace three-bedroom townhouse was sealed off today with forensic officers at the scene.

One neighbour, who lives behind the house and asked not be named, said a mother was living there with her sister and her son.

He said: ‘They were friendly enough. They would always say hello and stuff. She was in her 50s and there is a young lad.

‘The mother is retired and I’ve never seen the lad go to work. There’s nothing untoward about them, they seemed pretty normal.

A police car and officer stand guard outside the house in Rainham, Kent, early this morning

A police car and officer stand guard outside the house in Rainham, Kent, early this morning

A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of murder shortly after the incident in Rainham

A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of murder shortly after the incident in Rainham 

The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate has launched an investigation into the incident

The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate has launched an investigation into the incident

‘We were out last night until 11pm and when we got back police wouldn’t let us on our driveway. They were searching all around the back there.’

Another neighbour who has recently moved in said she and her husband heard screams last night.

She said: ‘We weren’t sure where it was coming from but we heard screaming outside last night.

‘It sometimes gets noisy out there so we weren’t sure what it was. Then the police knocked on our door and told us there had been an incident.’

Lights remained on and windows open at the address. In a small front garden there was shattered glass and two empty bins with rubbish spilling out.

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