Tangled love life of dead police chief hidden by 'canteen culture' among senior officers, inquiry finds

The inquiry into the death of Michael Todd, the chief constable who was found dead in Snowdonia three months ago, has revealed a 'canteen culture' within the police that covered up his tangled love life.

An official report into the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester's death will show that Mr Todd's numerous affairs with several women, including officers, were an 'open secret' among his colleagues at Scotland Yard, Greater Manchester Police, the Association of Chief Police Officers and HM Inspector of Constabulary.

A blind eye was turned to Mr Todd's sexual liaisons despite him suffering occasional periods of depression, concerns he was exploiting people under his command and a risk of him being blackmailed.

The married father-of-three's relationship with a secretary when he was an assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan Police came to light when her phone was bugged during an investigation by corruption officers.

A source told The Times: 'In other walks of life this kind of behaviour would have been seen as predatory but, for some reason, everyone in policing put up with it.'

Mr Todd's personal life is under the microscope in the independent police inquiry led by the Chief Constable of West Midlands, Sir Paul Scott Lee.

Investigators are examining his computer, emails, expense claims and BlackBerry usage.

Evidence gathered by the inquiry will reportedly show that two weeks before his death, Mr Todd met a senior female civil servant at an official conference and sent her 'inappropriate' text messages before she declined his advances and he apologised.

Mr Todd was found dead near the summit of Snowdon in March. An exact cause of death has not been established, despite initial reports pointing to suicide, and a full inquest has yet to take place.

The report is due to be published in late September.