WILTSHIRE deputy chief constable David Ainsworth feared he was going to lose his job before he was found hanged at his home last year, an inquest has heard.

The inquest into the death of Mr Ainsworth, 49, which began yesterday, heard that he had spoken of taking his own life as evidence was taken from his partner, estranged wife and brother.

Father-of-four Mr Ains-worth was told in late 2010 that an investigation would take place into allegations he had made inappropriate remarks to female colleagues at police headquarters in Devizes.

He was removed from his office at police headquarters and he elected to work at Marlborough Police Station.

In January 2011 he was seconded to the forensic science service in Coventry.

His partner, Jo Howes, who now lives in Westbury, and is a part-time charity worker, told the hearing that Mr Ainsworth thought the allegations had been dealt with and was surprised to be told in September 2010 that there would be an inquiry.

She said: “These were allegations that were made and dealt with, and revisited.”

Ms Howes said Mr Ainsworth had applied to be chief constable of Bedfordshire Police, having been given a grade A recommendation by Wiltshire’s then chief constable, Brian Moore, but had had to withdraw from the process because of the inquiry.

She said that, in early 2011, Mr Ainsworth had been told the inquiry would look at his service with Kent Police.

She said: “He felt abandoned by a police service he had devoted his life to. He felt he had been made into a pariah.”

Ms Howes cried as she told the inquest she found Mr Ainsworth hanging on March 22 last year.

The inquest also heard from Mr Ainsworth’s estranged wife Emma.

Mrs Ainsworth, who lives in Maidstone, Kent, recalled a telephone conversation with him at the beginning of February 2011.

Fighting back the tears she said: “He sounded quite panicky and upset and said things were not going well. He said he had thoughts of harming himself.

“I said do you mean you would take your own life and he said yes.”

In another phone call on March 12, Mrs Ainsworth said Mr Ainsworth sounded very tired and he had been signed off work sick.

“He said things had got really bad and he needed to protect our assets and he felt there was going to be some sort of civil cases taken against him and said we could lose everything.

“He wanted to sign the house over to me.”

Four days later Mr Ainsworth visited his children in Kent.

Mrs Ainsworth said: “David was just a shell of what he had been. The children were visibly shocked to the point they didn’t know what to say to him. Physically he looked ill and needed to be in hospital.”

Coroner David Ridley said he would examine the welfare support offered to Mr Ainsworth, who became Wiltshire’s deputy chief constable in July 2008 and whose ambition was to become a chief constable.

The hearing is listed to last at least another full day.