UK: Police chief found hanged after 'nice buttons' sexism row

Article here. Excerpt:

'Police chief David Ainsworth, under investigation for alleged sexism, including commenting on a female colleague’s “nice buttons”, was found hanged after convincing himself his force was “gunning for him”, an inquest was told.

Mr Ainsworth, 49, the deputy chief constable of Wiltshire, was removed from his duties after up to 24 allegations emerged against him from female colleagues.

The officer, who earned £110,000 a year, was accused of looking at one woman in a tailored blouse and commenting: “Nice buttons.”

He feared he would lose everything and was found hanged at his cottage in Potterne, Wilts, in March last year. Jo Howes, his girlfriend, told the inquest yesterday of a conversation less than a month before his death.

“David was very distressed and outlined why he thought he had nothing left to live for,” she said. “He thought his employer was gunning for him and he did not know why.

“He expressed that no matter what he did, those involved would get him, through an employment tribunal. He was very hurt.” She added: “He had been told by more than one superintendent that it was a witch hunt.”'