David Chenery-Wickens, 52, was in the witness box at Lewes Crown Court when he appeared to faint.

There were gasps from the packed public gallery as he fell heavily to the floor in court one, hitting his head on the ground. A bloody wound on his head could clearly be seen.

Chenery-Wickens, wrapped in white blanket and using an oxygen mask, was wheeled out of the court by paramedics to an ambulance and taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton. He was accompanied on his journey by three court security staff.

Chenery-Wickens denies murdering his wife, Diane, an award-winning BBC make-up artist.

He reported Diane, 48, missing in January last year and her decomposed body was found four months later, in May, in a country lane near Isfield.

The prosecution allege Chenery-Wickens, who lived with his wife in Duddleswell, near Crowborough, killed her when she found out about his affairs and debts.

But he claims she knew about his relationships with other women.
He has told the court that his wife decided herself to disappear and made him swear an oath that he would not reveal her plans.

Chenery-Wickens had been giving evidence for about an hour before he collapsed. He had just started to be cross-examined by prosecutor Philip Katz QC who was asking him about charlatans in the spiritualist world.

Chenery-Wickens, who claims to earn a living from work as a medium, exorcist and horse-whisperer, said having sexual relationship with clients did not make a person a charlatan.

He said: "A charlatan is someone who will make up things in order to make money out of them."

Chenery-Wickens was telling the court how he asked two mediums to help find his wife after she went missing when he asked to sit down. Moments later he collapsed.

Earlier he had been asked by Mr Katz about his spirit guide, who Chenery-Wickens explained was a Native American Indian called Wild Fox.

Mr Katz asked: "You are not just making this up as you go along, are you? I am going to suggest you have changed your story over and over again throughout this case."

Chenery-Wickens denied lying.

Earlier he told the court he was shocked when police arrested him on suspicion of murder. He said the last time he had seen his wife was in East Grinstead on the day she went missing.

He said: "She was walking away from me and was perfectly fit and well as far as I was concerned."

He denied any involvement in her death. He said: "If I had done anything I would have admitted it."

Proceedings were adjourned until Tuesday February 17.

The trial continues.