MARTIN Sparkes was a highly respected Bordon solicitor, a well loved and popular figure and a fine sportsman.

He was the founding senior partner of Sparkes and Co, employing a dozen people and two junior partners, with offices which occupied an entire floor above the Forest Shopping Centre.

But last month he was found dead, apparently having committed suicide, after police allegations had torn his life apart.

This week his widow and brother paid tribute to a loving family man and vowed to carry on his fight against Hampshire Police for malicious prosecution.

Mr SparkesÕ widow Jenny spoke movingly of her husbandÕs struggle to regain his life and told The Herald that she wanted to continue with the case because it meant so much to him.

ÒIt is the most terrible time of your life, having to bury a father, a son and a husband.Ó She added that the family were determined to continue with his claim against the police.

ÒMartin really felt he never had closure. It was something that meant a lot to him,Ó she said.

ÒIt is a slightly terrifying prospect because of what happened to Martin. It destroyed him.Ó

Martin Sparkes filed a £1 million action against Hampshire Police in June alleging trespass, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution relating to a raid on his home in 1995 and subsequent charges of money laundering and perverting the course of justice.

The charges against him were thrown out of court but Mr Sparkes claimed the allegations had cost him his business, his family and his health.

Mrs Sparkes said the family were now in discussion with Mr SparkesÕ lawyers about continuing the case and hoped to find a way forward soon.

Last month Mr Sparkes was found dead on a Somerset hillside overlooking Castle Cary, where his wife and their three children now live.

And on September 15 the family held a small private funeral in Chichester.

Mrs Sparkes said: ÒIt was a private cremation. We were all in terrible shock at the time so we just had close family and friends. We are hoping to have a memorial service in Sheet, where Martin lived, when we feel strong enough.

ÒHe was a fine man and he was so popular. He was a good lawyer and a fine sportsman. It is a tragedy. How we could have prevented it I do not know.Ó

This week Chris Sparkes, who lives in Petersfield, also paid tribute to his late brother.

ÒHe was a strong and well-loved character and he had a lot of love inside him. He had a way of warming people to him. I could be standing in the High Street talking to him and he would be waving to everybody,Ó he said.

He confirmed that the family were taking legal advice and wanted to proceed with the action.

ÒThe likelihood is that we will go ahead and it will be done in his widowÕs name,Ó he said.

Martin Sparkes founded his Bordon company in 1984 but things went wrong in 1995 when the police raided his Petersfield home and office and later charged him with laundering money from drugs trafficking and perverting the course of justice.

All charges against him were thrown out between 16 and 21 months later at Bristol Crown Court when the Crown offered no evidence.

But by that time Martin was a shattered man, his marriage strained and his home sold to pay off his companyÕs VAT debts.

He became clinically depressed, descended into alcoholism and was a frequent patient at St James Hospital in Portsmouth.

He and his wife Jenny eventually separated in 2002 when she moved to Somerset with their three children.

More recently he was unable to hold down a job as a solicitor specialising in family and matrimonial cases.

Two months before his death, Mr SparkesÕ solicitors, Arscotts of Hove, filed the £1 million writ against Hampshire Police in the QueenÕs Bench Division of the High Court.

It claimed for loss of earning, damages, aggravated damages, exemplary damages, interest on projected earnings and costs.

Hampshire Police made the following statement this week: ÒHampshire Constabulary is saddened to learn of the tragic death of Mr Martin Sparkes.

ÒThe civil litigation case being pursued by Mr Sparkes against the Constabulary could continue and be pursued by his executors. Hampshire Constabulary intend to defend this action and a defence to the claim has been filed with the court.Ó