A local police officer who took his own life was described as being his normal self on the day that he was found dead, a coroner's inquest heard yesterday (Thursday) in Milford Haven.

Thirty-five-year-old Adam James Chiffi, of Robeston Wathen, a previous estate agent in Tenby who joined Dyfed Powys Police in 2002, was found dead by police on July 8 this year in Minwear Woods, near Blackpool Mill.

An extensive search was launched by the authority after the officer, who worked in the police's criminal investigation department, had been reported missing following his absence from a hearing he was due to attend in Cardigan over a misconduct charge.

His wife Hannah, whom he had married the previous month and also worked for Dyfed Powys Police, told officers in her statement, that on the morning she left for work at Whitland police station, everything indicated that 'Chiff', as he was known, was going to attend the hearing he was scheduled to be at.

The last sighting of Mr. Chiffi was by a worker at the garage service station next door to where he lived, who said that he called in at around 10.30 am for a pack of cigarettes and seemed his normal self and was in no rush.

Once Mr. Chiffi did not report for the hearing, he was said to be a high risk missing person by the police authority and a search of his house ensued, where officers discovered letters he had written that indicated that he intended to take his own life.

A length of rope and step ladder were also noted as missing by his wife, who named around 10 potential areas that she believed her husband may head to.

Officers were briefed to carry out a search of the route Mr. Chiffi may have travelled on and police sergeant Martin Rogers, who was on duty at the Narberth station, discovered a blue vehicle believed to be Mr. Chiffi's, near Blackpool Mill, with it's engine still running.

Inside the vehicle, PS Rogers found a number of letters written by Mr. Chiffi which again indicated that he was going to take his own life and pinpointed his location in the Minwear Woods.

The sergeant found him hanging from a rope nearby, and after finding no pulse, he called paramedics who pronounced Mr. Chiffi dead shortly after.

HM Coroner for Pembrokeshire, Mark Layton, delivered a narrative verdict in conclusion, stating that Mr. Chiffi died from self-administered asphyxiation.

In her statement, that was read out by the Coroner, Mrs. Chiffi said that prior to the discovery of the letters on the day of her husband's death, she never believed that her husband would be someone who would consider taking his own life, describing him as a family man who would be sorely missed by his family and friends alike.