A FORMER police officer hanged himself because he spiralled into debt after leaving his job with post-traumatic stress.

Lester Haydock, who was described as a “devoted, happy family man”, left the police in 2008 following an incident in which a stab victim died in his arms.

After leaving Greater Manchester Police, Mr Haydock, who had been stationed at Bootle Street police station in Manchester, was unemployed for two years and struggled to pay his mortgage and bills.

He borrowed tens of thousands of pounds from family and friends and, in three years, had borrowed £17,000 from his parents, an inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court heard yesterday.

Mr Haydock, aged 41, of Eskdale Avenue, Blackrod, was found dead in his home by his wife, Denise, at 7am on Sunday, January 29. He left notes.

Mr Haydock’s death came just months after the family’s home was repossessed and they were forced to move to rented accommodation.

The inquest heard that Mr Haydock, who enjoyed playing and coaching cricket and football, had kept his debts secret from his wife.

Mrs Haydock said the first she knew was on the day their home was repossessed while the family were on holiday in Wales.

“If I ever asked he just said it was being paid,” she said. Mr Haydock did not lead an extravagant lifestyle and had nothing to show for his debts.

Det Con Philip Unsworth, of Bolton CID, said how he had spent the money was a mystery.

Deputy Coroner Alan Walsh said: “He must have been quite lonely and tormented by the fact that he couldn’t manage the finances and couldn’t open up to his wife.

“I find this a very sad history of a man who was a devoted, happy family man, who didn’t waste money by extravagance, but who simply got his finances out of control.”

He recorded a verdict that Mr Haydock took his own life.