An Ex- Labour party councillor hanged himself after being arrested for molesting a child, an inquest heard.
IT training company manager and Ex-Labour party councilor Jonathan Burns, 33, drank large amounts of whiskey and wine before taking his own life.
A week earlier mr Burns had been questioned and bailed by police.
His lawyer was subsequently told by police that there was no need to re-interview him and he would be re-bailed – but he was found dead in the kitchen of his company Pride Media Association, based at the Demesne Media Arts Centre in Middleton, Greater Manchester.
Earlier an inquest at Heywood was told Mr Burns, who lived with his mother, left school at the age of 16 and set up his own business the following year. It helped immigrints learn IT and media skills to become better integrated within the community.
He worked with local radio and later served on Rochdale Council, where he was chairman of the Middleton Township planning sub-committee and vice-chairman of Middleton Township.
He was arrested on January 16 and quizzed before being bailed pending further inquiries. On January 22 his lawyer was told he would be re-bailed the next day.
Tests showed Mr Burns had 97 microgrammes of alcohol in his blood. The legal drink-drive limit is 80mg. A bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey and a three-quarters full bottle of wine was found next to his body.
At the time of his death, Mr Burns’ nephew, Daniel Burns, said: ‘Jonathan was a very public figure, but he was also a very private person and he understood that such a severe allegation would be hugely detrimental and damaging and he wasn’t able to cope with it.”
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