Michael Todd, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester who was found dead in Snowdonia on Tuesday, had been drinking but did not jump or fall to his death an inquest heard today.

It was claimed this morning that the married father of three had been involved in an extramarital relationship with Angie Robinson, the chief executive of Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Reports have suggested that he may have become depressed as he struggled to keep the liaison secret.

An inquest into his death was opened in Anglesey, North Wales this afternoon and the coroner brought forward medical evidence in an attempt to dispel some “ridiculous” stories of Mr Todd’s death.

The pathologist however was unable to explain the exact cause of his death.

The head of Manchester police was discovered lying face down, without his coat but with a near-empty bottle of gin beside him, on a snowy slope at Bwlch Glas, near Snowdon’s summit. He had sent a number of farewell text messages before he died.

A preliminary report from the pathologist found that Mr Todd was over the legal drink-driving limit, but not drunk enough to be endangering his life under normal circumstances. Alcohol consumption, however, can leave the body more susceptible to exposure and hypothermia.

The court was told that he had minor scrapes on his face, hand and shin, consistent with a stumble but not a major fall.

Dewi Pritchard-Jones, the coroner, said: “There was no evidence this man had jumped from height or sustained any significant injuries.”

It is thought that Mr Todd, 50, may have been trying to maintain the secrecy of a number of extramarital affairs when he died. Rumours have suggested that Mr Todd’s love-life was set to be exposed in a Sunday newspaper story.

Today his wife Carolyn, 50, the mother of their children Catherine, 16, and twins David and Matthew, 13, said: “Michael was a caring and loving father and husband. He was immensely proud of his kids.

“He worked away from home on the second most important thing in his life, his job, returning to us at the weekend and for family holidays. The family recently returned from a holiday in Jamaica.

“I loved Michael very much and the last time I spoke to him he told me he loved me too. We have been married for 27 years and eight months.

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