A man whose car plunged over 100ft cliffs after failing to stop for police, left a suicide note at his home.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) yesterday named the victim as Dean Paul Noakes, 29, of Thorndean Road, Moulsecoomb, Brighton.

He died instantly when his silver Nissan Sunny crossed two lanes of on-coming traffic before smashing through the cliff-top fence above Brighton Marina on Saturday evening.

Police and the IPCC would not confirm a note was left but a source told The Argus: "They found one at his home after the crash."

The death happened on a 50 mph stretch of the A259 just before 9pm on Saturday.

The car ended up on its roof on the Undercliff Walk about 50 yards from luxury flats.

Witnesses raced to the wreckage but there was no response from the driver.

The car had failed to stop for a police patrol car immediately prior to the incident.

Police said it had been seen driving erratically.

Firefighters from Roedean and Preston Circus used cutting gear to free the victim.

The crash was referred to the IPCC and is being managed by Commissioner David Petch and conducted by Inspector Mark Armstrong of Sussex Police roads policing department.

The IPCC yesterday said a post mortem showed Mr Noakes died from head injuries.

An inquest will be held.