Police chief died of exposure

Monday 6th October 2008, 3:20PM BST.

Michael Todd, former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, died of exposure when his state of mind was affected by alcohol, sleeping drug Nytol and confusion due to his personal situation, coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones ruled at the inquest in to his death today.

Mr Todd sent a last text message before he died, saying: “I’m sorry for what I have done, forgive me in another life,” the inquest heard.

He also visited suicide websites as well as sending a series of tragic text messages to friends and lovers in the days before he died.

The texts culminated in him admitting he was intending to kill himself, and apologising to his wife, Carolyn Todd, about his affair with another woman.

Angie Robinson, the married chief executive of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and a former chief executive of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, was linked to the police chief following his death.

The hearing continues.

See Tuesday’s Shropshire Star for more on this story

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