Soccer star's ex-wife 'left junkie dying'

The ex-wife of former England captain Tony Adams left a woman dying in her car while she got high on drugs at a party, an inquest heard yesterday.

Jane Shea may even have been planning to dump Teresa Tuppen's body after the addict overdosed, it was claimed.

Ms Shea and Jason Gaubert, a friend who was driving, were questioned and arrested on suspicion of murder after officers found them 'under the effects of drugs'. They were later released without charge.

Police discovered Mrs Tuppen, 44, dead in the back of 38-year-old Ms Shea's black BMW in Fulham, West London.

Ms Shea was 'not coherent', PC Ben Richards told Westminster Coroner's Court. Mr Gaubert was also 'agitated'and laughed as he and Ms Shea were arrested.

Mrs Tuppen, Ms Shea, Mr Gaubert and another addict, Lorraine Gerad, met near Putney Bridge earlier on April 26, the court heard. Mother-of-one Mrs Tuppen was already in a bad state. That evening they left her snoring in the car while they partied at Ms Shea's home in Putney, it was claimed. In court, Keith Tuppen, 46, shouted at Mr Gaubert: 'You sat and watched my wife die.'

Det Sgt Karen Gallagher said it was 'a possibility' that Mr Gaubert and Ms Shea intended to dump Mrs Tuppen's body.

Ms Shea, in South Africa on a drug detox programme, was not at the hearing.

Coroner Dr Paul Knapman recorded a verdict of death from a mixture of drugs.