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

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 the 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 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 said. But she added the family was determined to continue with her late husbandÕs 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 was now in discussion with Mr SparkesÕ lawyers about continuing the case and hoped to find a way forward soon.

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

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 and 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 the family was taking legal advice and wanted to proceed with the action.

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

In 1984 Martin Sparkes was the founding senior partner of Sparkes and Co, based in Bordon, employing a dozen staff.

In 1995 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 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 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 a £1 million writ against Hampshire Police in the QueenÕs Bench Division of the High Court.

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

A Hampshire Police spokesman said the force was ÔsaddenedÕ by Mr SparkesÕ death but confirmed that it still intended to fight the case.