A POLICEMAN who wrongly believed he was under investigation has been found hanged.

Pc Carl Morton, of Greater Manchester Police's air support unit, left a note suggesting he thought he was the subject of an internal inquiry by the force.

But the 42-year-old married father of three daughters was mistaken.

GMP confirmed he was not under investigation by either its professional standards branch or the internal investigations unit, which carries out covert inquiries into police corruption and misconduct.

Text message

Pc Morton had been on a surveillance course one day last week but sent a text message to a colleague saying he would not be at the afternoon session.

The text gave the impression that he might harm himself and as a result police went to his home in Disley, near Stockport.

Shortly afterwards, officers found his body in countryside off Strines Road, near Marple.

A GMP spokesman said: "Tragically, when Carl's own colleagues found him he was already dead."

He stressed that Pc Morton was not under investigation but the circumstances of his death were referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

A spokesman for the IPCC said it had examined the referral but had decided no action was required by them as there was no evidence that Pc Morton was under investigation.

There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and the case has been passed to the coroner.

Devoted

Today, Pc Morton's widow, Hilary, said: "Carl was a most wonderful loving and devoted father to his beautiful daughters and a truly loving, caring and supportive husband.

"The loss of Carl has left a void in our family that will never be filled."

Pc Morton joined GMP in 1992 and was working at the air support unit - part of the specialist operations branch - at the time of his death.

Most of his 17 years' service was spent working in GMP's Stockport division.

Supt David Hull, from the specialist operations branch, said: "Having worked with Carl in Stockport and as part of the specialist operations branch, I know his dedication to the job and, in particular his colleagues, was second to none.

"He was a popular officer whose dependability and hard work made him a valued officer, both to his colleagues and, more importantly, to the communities he served.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."