THE wife of a Devizes police officer killed herself because she could not bear the burden of secret debts, an inquest heard.

Angela Terry, of Spin Hill, Market Lavington, died on February 28, just days after her 33rd birthday.

David Masters, coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said on Wednesday: Her death was totally unexpected and so unnecessary.

Mrs Terry, who was married to PC Nick Terry, had celebrated her birthday on February 23, Mr Masters said at the hearing in Chippenham on Wedneday, July 5.

Then the night before her death she had a meal with her husband, and went to bed, setting the alarm for 6am the next morning so she could go to work.

But range warden Marcus Kendrew found her the next day parked up near observation post 20 on Salisbury Plain.

In a statement he said he saw a hose sticking out from the rear of the van and a person sitting upright in the front passenger seat. Although the windows were discoloured, he realised what had happened.

Det Con Jeremy Carter, of Salisbury CID, told the inquest he went to the vehicle where Mrs Terry was slumped, fully dressed, inside.

He found an empty pill bottle with a label indicating it held animal medication, as well as 46 unused paracetamol tablets and a bottle half full of a pink liquid. The van was sealed with old material.

The day after his wife's death, PC Terry went through some of her personal belongings and documents.

The debts shown by the documents were substantial, Mr Masters said. It just became too much for her to bear.

Mrs Terry had not wanted her husband to know anything about their debts because she was worried it would affect his career, added Mr Masters.

A post mortem confirmed Mrs Terry had died of carbon monoxide poisoning and the coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.