A WOMAN being held in connection with an Ipswich murder probe is today believed to be the dead man's former girlfriend. Rachel Allard, 26, lives at the house in Salisbury Road where Derek Henderson-Chittock was found with stab wounds on Wednesday.

A WOMAN being held in connection with an Ipswich murder probe is today believed to be the dead man's former girlfriend.

Rachel Allard, 26, lives at the house in Salisbury Road where Derek Henderson-Chittock was found with stab wounds on Wednesday.

A 25-year-old man, John McCullum – who also lives in the same house- is also believed to be being quizzed by police today in connection with 36-year-old Mr Henderson-Chittock's death.

Both Ms Allard and Mr McCullum have not been seen by neighbours since police arrested two people on the day the murder inquiry began.

The couple sell Kleeneze products in the neighbourhood and booklets for the cleaning company, with their names on, remain uncollected on doorsteps in the area.

Police today refused to confirm that Ms Allard and Mr McCullum were the suspects currently being questioned at Ipswich police station.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court yesterday allowed police to keep the two arrested people in custody for a further 36 hours, which allows police to continue questioning the pair until the early hours of Saturday.

Police were called to the Salisbury Road house in the early hours of Wednesday following reports that a man had been stabbed.

Mr Henderson-Chittock, of Springhurst Close, was dead by the time the ambulance service arrived.

It is believed Mr Henderson-Chittock, known to his neighbours as Del, grew up in Ipswich and attended Westbourne High School. He had lived alone at a flat in St Edmundsbury House, Springhurst Close, for at least five years.

One neighbour said: "He was an alright neighbour. He had aggression problems and had served time in prison but I don't think he had an easy life.

"The police were forever here at one point.

"He'd recently been on a course in the town centre five days a week to do with his alcohol that had just finished and I must admit I have seen him drinking since then.

The 27-year-old said: "He had issues with some of his neighbours but I found him okay. He kept himself to himself. He liked to play his music loud but so do a lot of people round here.

"I last saw him a few days ago. He stuck his head out of the window to say hi and he seemed fine."

Neighbours said Mr Henderson-Chittock's father passed away recently. It is believed he has a sister living in Ipswich.

Sara Patrick, 28, who lives in a flat nearby, said he appeared to be making progress in rehabilitation.

She said: "The timing is surprising as he was sorting himself out and was getting on his feet again. It seems such a shame."

Lisa McDermott, 25, who lives in a flat on the floor below, said she had not spoken to Mr Henderson-Chittock for a while.

She said he used to work in security but was unemployed at the time of his death.

She added: "I heard about the death but it wasn't until my neighbour said it was him that I found out. I was shocked."

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