Paedophile hanged himself after police told new girlfiend about his past

A convicted paedophile took his own life after his girlfriend dumped him when she learnt about his past – from the police, an inquest heard.

Builder Peter Burton, 49, was convicted of two counts of indecent assault against a 14-year-old girl in Kent in 2002.

He was put on the sex offenders’ register for ten years after his release from prison a year later and moved to Cornwall.

In August 2010 he met Carol Tompkin, who has a juvenile daughter, and they began a relationship, an inquest was told.

But in October 20120 concerned police officers told her about Mr Burton’s past and she quickly ended the relationship.

He was found days later on October 27, 2010, hanging at an empty cottage and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Carol told the inquest:  ”He did divulge he had been investigated for a sexual offence, which was untrue and he was cleared. I felt sick by what I’d heard.”

Jonathan Scott, from the police protection unit said: ”I made it clear it was the view of police and social services that he had committed these offences.”

Coroner Emma Carlyon said: ”There is no evidence that the police acted inappropriately.”

Verdict: took his own life.