A BRIT wanted in connection with the murder of gran Michele Faiers in Italy reportedly drove overnight to the UK just hours after her death.

Michael Whitbread, 74, was arrested at his daughter’s home in the UK on Thursday after driving 1,259 miles through Switzerland and France.

His partner Michele Faiers, 66, was found stabbed to death at the couple’s home in Chieti, Italy on Wednesday.

She had been missing for days before her blood-soaked body was found by her friend who alerted Italian authorities.

The arrest warrant, seen by the MailOnline indicates Whitbread left the house on Saturday and drove all night crossing the border with Switzerland and passing through France before arriving in the UK.

He was arrested on Wednesday in a home owned by his daughter in Shepshed, Leicestershire and remained in custody on Friday.

He is expected to appear before magistrates on Saturday for an extradition hearing.

The warrant also appears to show how the woman had been stabbed seven times in the back, according to a local coroner.

Italian cops found Michele in a pool of blood apparently dressed only in her underwear and covered by a white sheet.

The British expat was living at the property in the Verratti district with her partner Michael Whitbread after moving to Italy in 2015.

The couple who ran Divers Down scuba school in Torquay, Devon, had retired before moving to Italy.

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Her body was discovered by her friend who had grown concerned after not hearing from her for several days.

Police launched a manhunt for Whitbread after he was suspected of having fled the scene in the family car.

After hearing her friend’s screams, neighbours alerted the police who then rushed to the property.

Former neighbours revealed in a heartbreaking statement that just weeks before her death, Michele had visited the UK for her daughter’s wedding.

One neighbour said: “She was here for her daughter’s wedding in September.

“She was obviously so happy at the wedding, this has just come as a complete shock.

“It must be awful for the daughter, she’s only just got married and is having to deal with something like this.

“She was just a lovely person, they moved out to Italy to retire.”

Neighbours at the woman’s old home in Torquay told The Sun they remembered her as a “lovely person”.

Michele made her last post on Instagram on October 25, just days before she died.

She shared three pictures of a sunset taken from the terrace of her house in Italy.

Other photos she shared online over the years showed the pair smiling and apparently having fun on trips, with friends and with family.

The pair were described as private by locals who said they would often see them taking walks with their three dogs.