Man held after body of missing British expat found buried near home in Spain

A MAN has been arrested after the body of a missing British pensioner was found buried near her home in Spain.

Officials had been searching for the missing woman — named locally as Lesley Anne Pearson, 74 — since Wednesday after she failed to return a hire car.

Police arrested the suspect, believed to be 45, after her body was discovered near her home in Algar, a village in Cadiz, south-west Spain.

The detainee was described locally as a handyman, who worked for the British expat.

Well-placed sources said the body had “signs of violence.”

The man held is expected to appear at court on Monday.

It is believed he will be remanded in custody pending an ongoing criminal probe.

Lesley Anne Pearson was described locally as a “very nice person.”

Town mayor Jose Carlos Sanchez has declared three days of mourning.

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