Ex-detective held over murder of York policewoman partner

The body of Heather Cooper, 33, who served with the Surrey force, was found on Sunday in woodland in West Sussex.

Officers were called shortly before 11.30pm to a report of a concern for safety and firstly attended an address in West Street, Haslemere, Surrey, where mother-of-two Miss Cooper lived.

Following inquiries, they then went to Blackdown Woods near Lurgashall, West Sussex, where a search of the woodland led to the discovery of the body concealed in undergrowth about four miles from the house.

Miss Cooper’s partner, Peter Foster, 35, was then detained by police. He is believed now to be a heating engineer after leaving Surrey Police around two years ago.

Police have cordoned off an area of National Trust woodland were the body was found while forensic officers carry out their investigations.

The detached house in Haslemere is still also cordoned off as police forensic teams examine the property.

Miss Cooper, who was originally from Acomb, York, has not yet been formally identified but police say the two were not married.

A post-mortem examination is expected to take place this afternoon at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, police said.

Dominique Chapman, 44, who lives opposite the couple, said: “They were a very close family, they went out as a family, at the weekends - they have two small children. Heather did not come from round here but Peter did, they had only been living here for about a year.

“I cannot believe this has happened.”

She added: “He is a very nice man - very, very kind and generous, a good plumber who takes his shoes off when he comes into the house.”

A police guard remained at the cordoned-off house this morning which is located opposite a police station which no longer has a public counter.

An elderly neighbour in West Street, who did not want to be named, confirmed that Miss Cooper had given birth to her second child about a month ago and believed she was still on maternity leave.

She said: “It’s so sad when such young children are involved, poor little souls.”

Graeme Spratley, of nearby Popes Mead, said that he would often see the family coming and going.

He said: “The whole tragedy is that a family has been destroyed.

“We would see them, especially going in or coming out, we saw them with a toddler and a baby - it’s just awful.”

In the woodland where Miss Cooper’s body was found, about 12 officers were this morning carrying out searches of the undergrowth.

The officers were using rakes to push back the bushes in their search for evidence.