A police officer committed suicide after writing a text to a lover thanking him for a ”wonderful” date – but accidentally sent it to her HUSBAND, an inquest heard.
WPC Gail Crocker, 46, met a fellow officer while her hubbie Peter, 49, was on a business trip in London.
Later that evening the mum-of-two typed a message on her mobile saying: “Thank you for a wonderful evening. Only wish we could do this more often”.
But mum-of-two Gail sent the message to husband of 30 years Peter by mistake, an inquest, in Truro, Cornwall was told.
He came home and she admitted to having a ”one off” rendezvous with a male colleague but insisted it had never happened before.
The couple rowed and the next day Gail downed sleeping tablets and climbed into the boot of her car where she was found dead on June 15.
Friends spotted her white Audi TT and Mr Crocker opened the boot to find his wife’s body beside an empty bottle of pills and suicide notes.
Peter, of St Stephen, Cornwall, told the inquest his wife had begged him for forgiveness when he got back from his trip.
He told the inquest: “I got out (of the car) and she was in floods of tears saying she was sorry. She told me it was a one-off and she had never done it before.
“She was my life. We had plans. Nothing was worth her taking her life. I’m lost without her.”
Gail sent the text on June 12 this year and her husband returned on June 13 and they rowed again day the following morning, June 14.
She called him at work and Mr Crocker hurled his phone into the floor and had to go to the supermarket to buy a replacement.
He arrived home later that day to find his wife had vanished and had called in sick to work.
Peter told the hearing: “She went on and on again. My work phone rang. I was so angry I slammed it into the ground.
“I got home and Gail was not there and neither was her car. I didn’t sleep at all. I didn’t hear from Gail during the night.”
Mr Crocker contacted her sergeant at Bodmin Police Station who told him she had called in sick for her shift that afternoon.
The following morning David Rendell and his wife, who were close friends with the Crockers, spotted Gail’s car in the car park at Lanjeth, a nearby village.
They had planned to take their dog on a walk but after discovering the vehicle Mr Rendell called Mr Crocker, who met them at the car park.
Mr Crocker discovered his wife’s body in the boot next to an empty bottle of sleeping tablets and suicide notes written to him and daughters Chloe, 22 and Gemma, 25
Consultant pathologist Ilona Hopkins recorded the cause of death as an overdose of diphenhydramine, a sleep aid, and tramadol, a painkiller.
Mrs Crocker first trained as a PCSO in Truro in 2003 and became a police constable in 2007. She met her husband in Plymouth, Devon, when she was aged 15 and he was 17.
Mr Crocker added in his statement: “She was a people person She would speak to anyone about anything. Being a PCSO was her perfect job.”
The unnamed colleague whom Mrs Crocker spent the evening with was not required to give evidence or named at the inquest.
Returning a verdict of suicide, Coroner for Cornwall Emma Carlyon told the hearing she was satisfied that Mrs Crocker’s death resulted from a deliberate act to take her own life.
At the time of her death colleagues paid tribute to the “excellent” police officer who was based in Truro and later Bodmin.
Sector inspector Robin Hogg said: “I have known Gail for several years and will always remember her as an excellent officer with a bright, happy and positive disposition.
“Her work and work ethics were of the highest standard and I am particularly proud of the way she performed her duty.
“She got the balance of law enforcement and community support spot-on, maybe because of her initial work as a PCSO based at Truro.
“Her work with the public was always completed with a smile and she has had a very positive influence on the people she dealt with.
“Gail leaves a husband and two daughters who miss her deeply and are very proud of the role she carried out in the community.
“Her loss leaves a huge hole in the police family and this will be felt by all who knew her.
“She was more than just a colleague; she was a good friend to us all. She will be truly missed.
“My thoughts go out to her family and friends at this time and I will continue to support them through the hard times ahead.”
PCSO Lloyd Paynter said: “We knew her very well. She was a great colleague and a great friend as well.
“It’s an absolutely huge shock for all of us. It has certainly hit home very hard. She was a really, really pleasant person.”
…. She knew what she did.