A WEST Cumbrian detective who was found dead near Cogra Moss in June was facing an allegation that he had sexually abused a child, an inquest heard.

Detective Sergeant George Atkinson, 46, who was based at Workington police station, was found by colleagues at Fother Gill, Lamplugh Fell, on June 23.

The inquest heard he had hanged himself in woodland after becoming concerned colleagues would find out he had repeatedly breaching bail conditions.

David Roberts, senior coroner, heard that Mr Atkinson had been arrested in April after the abuse allegation was made.

He was released on police bail and suspended from work without prejudice while it was investigated.

Under his bail conditions Mr Atkinson was banned from having contact with his wife Cath Wilson, also a serving police officer, and moved from their home in Kirkland to stay with his brother in Whitehaven.

The inquest heard Mr Atkinson, who maintained his innocence, had visited his doctor soon after his arrest, suffering extreme stress.

In the weeks that followed, witnesses said, Mr Atkinson had expressed suicidal thoughts.

He had feared he could end up in prison, which would be particularly hard for a police officer.

The inquest heard that during the investigation he and his wife had met and spoken secretly and he had told a colleague he thought their relationship had a future.

She said: "I initially was quite angry with him because of the allegation.

"Pretty soon he was really upset and he was crying, saying he hadn't done it."

Soon, Mrs Wilson said, her husband mentioned suicide.

She added: "He said that he'd googled it. I begged him not to do that.

"He said that he couldn't be without me, that he hadn't done it, that it had ruined his life."

Her husband warned her that he would kill himself if she told anybody about their discussions.

Over time, though, Mrs Wilson grew concerned about the trouble she could face if their meetings were discovered.

A holiday alone in early June gave Mrs Wilson space to consider the situation.

She said: "I knew that I needed to distance myself from George. It wasn't right us seeing each other.

"His behaviour was becoming more erratic. He didn't seem like he was thinking straight."

On June 20, Mrs Wilson told her husband that she wanted to tell colleagues about their continued contact.

Over the weekend he talked her out of it and on June 21 enjoyed a family gathering with his brother and other relatives.

The following day Mrs Wilson disclosed details about their recent contact to a friend and colleague.

On her advice, Mrs Wilson contacted her boss, Inspector Annette McClement, who visited her at home in an unmarked police car.

Around the same time, Mr Atkinson was seen finishing a walk at Ennerdale Water.

His route back to his brother's house, the inquest heard, would have taken Mr Atkinson past his house in Kirkland, where he would have recognised the unmarked car on the driveway.

A short time later he arrived at his brother's house but left within 10 minutes.

He sent his wife messages asking for help then phoned her and said: "You've told them, haven't you? They're coming for me, aren't they?"

When Mr Atkinson could not be found at his brother's house, a missing person's search was launched.

Mr Atkinson was found by a dog handler at about 2.45pm the next day.

In the hours before he died he had sent a email from his mobile phone to his work address, stating that he was innocent and saying goodbye to his family.

He had also texted his ex-wife Morag asking her to tell their children he loved them.

A search of his laptop after he died found he had researched possible methods.

Mr Roberts concluded that Mr Atkinson had committed suicide.

He added: "This wasn't a cry for help. He was in the middle of nowhere in dense woodland in the middle of the night."