A husband whose wife mysteriously fell off 500ft cliffs after a romantic picnic was branded a "dishonest, manipulative, control freak" with a motive for killing her.

Coroner Alan Craze said everyone was united in regarding Paul Ramsden's actions in the moments leading to the death of Paula Ramsden at Beachy Head as suspicious.

Mr Craze said: "My feeling is that if you asked 100 people who had heard all the evidence over the last three days and had seen and assessed Mr Ramsden, in their heart of hearts, 'Do you believe he killed his wife?' a very considerable number would say yes."

His comments came at the end of the three-day inquest during which it was heard Mr Ramsden, 38, stood to gain more than £225,000 from a "drop dead" life insurance policy taken out on his wife.

However, Mr Craze ruled out a verdict of unlawful killing, instead recording an open verdict.

He said it could not be proved Mr Ramsden had killed mother-of-two Mrs Ramsden, 32.

Outside court, murder squad detectives revealed they are to review evidence from the inquest, saying at least one area of evidence emerged worthy of following up.

The inquest in Eastbourne heard Shell operations manager Mr Ramsden, of Crofton Cottages, Horsham, was arrested on suspicion of murder following his wife's death on January 9, 2000.

He was released on bail until May but was not re-arrested and no charges were brought against him, although the case has remained open.

Before her death, Mr Ramsden had been unfaithful with work colleague Liz Harrison, 30, a Sussex University graduate studying for a Masters degree in Surrey.

He rejected suggestions by Mr Craze that he had shoved Mrs Ramsden to her death to collect the insurance and start a new life with his mistress.

Mr Ramsden said: "My relationship with Paula was fine. It wasn't coming to an end. It wasn't even nearing an end. Me and Paula were on top of the world."

Detective Inspector Tim Guyton, of East Downs CID, revealed that Mr Ramsden had lied about his qualifications in his job application to Shell.

He told bosses he had Coroner and cliffs death suspicion gained O-level passes at Thomas Bennett Community College in 1979 in maths, biology, art, history and economics, which he had not.

He lied about passing a two-year ONC course in Business Studies at Crawley Technical College between 1981 and 1983.

Ramsden and his wife were childhood sweethearts but parted and Mrs Ramsden got married at 20.

They rekindled their romance in their 30s after he had "done all the chasing", even while she was married.

Four years before they wed in May 1993, she moved into his three-bed semi at Ash Close, Crawley Down.

The inquest heard Mr Ramsden spent six nights with with Miss Harrison in the eight weeks before Mrs Ramsden's death.

Coroner Mr Craze suggested Mr Ramsden was lining Miss Harrison up as "a replacement" for his wife, to which he replied: "No, no."

Mr Craze asked what Mrs Ramsden would have thought had she found out about his infidelity. He replied: "She would have been disgusted. She never confronted me."

In the eight days before the tragedy, Mr and Mrs Ramsden had gone to Beachy Head for walks three times, despite her fear of heights.

On January 9, 2000, they drove there for a picnic just feet from the cliff edge.

Mr Ramsden said just before 5pm, they decided to head back to the car. He claimed that when he had his back to her, she fell over the edge.

He said: "I span round immediately and shouted her name. I shouted it a few more times then I legged it to the car."

He dashed to a phone box to raise the alarm.

The inquest heard from witnesses that although he was wailing uncontrollably there were no tears.

Mr Ramsden said: "I didn't know what my emotions were supposed to be. Paula dying was a huge shock. I was numb."

Mr Craze asked Mr Ramsden whether his wife's death had anything to with him, to which he replied: "Absolutely not."

Mr Craze ruled out an unlawful killing verdict, saying it could not be proved Mr Ramsden had pushed his wife off Beachy Head.

However, he added: "I have to decide whether it's been proven on the evidence that he did so.

"He has been shown to be dishonest, egocentric, manipulative and a control freak. I believe Paula would have followed him anywhere. Everyone has been united in regarding this death as suspicious."

Outside court, Mr Ramsden said: "My life has been ruined by the tragic loss of my wife. I didn't murder my wife. I loved her."

Det Insp Guyton said no charges were brought against Mr Ramsden on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service.