A Welsh Labour minister who took his own life days after being sacked for alleged sexual misconduct was kept in the dark over the claims, close friends complained on Tuesday night.

Carl Sargeant, 49, a married father-of-two, was discovered dead at the family home in North Wales on Tuesday morning. Sources said he had taken his own life.

Mr Sargeant had been sacked as Welsh Cabinet Secretary in charge of communities and children on Friday after at least three women were reported to have made allegations against him. In his ministerial role, he had been a champion of female victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse.

Leighton Andrews, a former colleague on the Welsh Assembly, said his close friend had not been informed of the details of the allegations.

“My understanding is that Carl was still not aware of the detail of the allegations against him, even, I’m told, this morning,” said Mr Andrews.

Mark Tami, the Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside, said: “The last time I spoke to him he didn’t know what the allegations were.”