Tim Masling died on July 1 this year

A GCHQ spybase worker hanged himself after being arrested by police and then suspended from his top secret work, an inquest heard yesterday.

Tim Masling, 57, of Cheltenham, died on July 1 this year, three weeks after his arrest and suspension from the intelligence organisation.

During an inquest held at Gloucester Coroners Court, his family said the allegation which led to his arrest has never been proved and they are sure he would still be alive if his GCHQ bosses had been more supportive.

The coroner, Katy Skerrett, recorded a conclusion of suicide.

Mr Masling was arrested on June 16 for reasons which have not been made public.

After his release, he tried to arrange a meeting with his employers ‘to put his side of the story across’, but one was not arranged, his wife, Deborah, said during the inquest.

He then went to work on June 19 but found his pass wasn’t working.

Mr Masling was informed by a GCHQ security guard that after a meeting on the Friday with a member of security, he was told he had been banned from the site.

Mr Masling (far right) and his family members, who say his arrest and lack of support from his bosses at GCHQ lead to his death

'In fact, Tim had never had such a meeting and had not been told that’, Mrs Masling said.

On Monday, June 20, her husband rang GCHQ in the morning to try to find out what was going on, who were ‘very apologetic’.

The coroner asked Mrs Masling what state of mind he was in and she replied: 'He was very, very positive regarding the allegation that was made.

'He was going to fight it all the way to clear his name. That was from the outset, from the moment he was arrested. He was extremely confident everything was going to be cleared.'

A colleague at GCHQ - referred to in court only as 'Witness A' – later contacted Mr Masling and told him she had spoken to her line manager about his arrest.

Mrs Masling said: 'The line manager had told her and other staff members of the arrest and the fact that Tim had been put on 'gardening leave’.

Her husband then went to see his GP and was signed off sick for eight weeks. He was prescribed anti-depressants.

On July 1, Mrs Masling returned home and found a suicide note on his computer. She called her father, Frank Lacey, who lives nearby and he came straight round. He went into the garage and found her husband hanging dead.

Asked by the coroner if she felt her husband had formed a settled intent to end his life, Mrs Masling said: 'I think he had got to the stage whereby he felt that to protect everybody. He didn't want to die but he felt he was in a hopeless situation.

'He chose death because he wanted to end the pain that he was going through and the pain that he felt he was bringing to myself.'

Asked by her barrister Mark Smith if her husband's positive attitude to the allegations ever waned she said 'No.'

She confirmed her husband had received a letter from GCHQ telling him his security pass had been suspended for the duration of his time off sick.

Mr Masling was a talented skittles player and regularly won awards for his skills

Detective sergeant Tracyann Curtis of Gloucestershire police gave evidence about the finding of Mr Masling's body and confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

The coroner read parts of a statement from 'Witness A', who said that while at work on June 21 she had a 30 minute phone conversation with Mr Masling who was 'climbing the walls and just wanted to come into work to get his side across.'

The next day when she spoke to him he was close to tears, she stated. On June 23 she was surprised when he told her he had been asked to attend a meeting at GCHQ but had refused.

'He said work had already written him off and he didn't want to go over old ground.'

Mr Masling, who was an award-winning skittler, was talking about never going back to GCHQ and retiring.

He was in a 'dark place,' she stated.

In a statement published after his death, his wife, and two children, Matthew and Laura, issued a statement, which said: 'The family believe that the sequence of events surrounding the death of Tim, the allegation for which there was no evidence to support it, and the handling of his welfare by his employer, were the contributing factors in why Tim decided to take his life.

'The family believe that had these factors not happened Tim would still be with his family and friends today.

They added they were 'deeply shocked and saddened’ by his untimely death.

‘Tim was a well respected, popular and thoughtful member of the community and a loving husband, father and friend.'

A GCHQ spokesperson said today: 'Tim Masling was a valued colleague, held in respect and affection by many of his friends and co-workers at GCHQ. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go to his loved-ones at this difficult time.'