Inquest: Former Labour councillor Jonathan Burns, 33, (pictured) hanged himself after being arrested over claims he sexually assaulted a young girl

A tormented former Labour councillor hanged himself after being arrested over claims he sexually assaulted a young girl, an inquest heard.

IT training company manager Jonathan Burns, 33, wrote eight letters to family friends and then drank whiskey and wine before taking his own life.

A week earlier the father-of-one had been questioned and bailed by police over allegations of sexual assault on a girl aged under 16.

His lawyer was subsequently told by police that there was no need to re-interview him and he would be re-bailed - but he was found dead in the kitchen of his company Pride Media Association, based at the Demesne Media Arts Centre in Middleton, Greater Manchester.

The respected politician - hailed as a 'great community champion' - was an 'intensely private' man who may have been 'masking his feelings' over his detention, an inquest heard.

Following his death his family insisted he was 'completely innocent' of any wrongdoing.

Earlier an inquest at Heywood was told Mr Burns, who lived with his mother, left school at the age of 16 and set up his own business the following year. It helped people learn IT and media skills to become better integrated within the community.

He worked with local radio and later served on Rochdale Council, where he was chairman of the Middleton Township planning sub-committee and vice-chairman of Middleton Township.

Mr Burns served on the council for seven years, before standing down at the last election in May 2014. He also helped set up the Middleton Crisis Support Project charity.

He was arrested on January 16 and quizzed before being bailed pending further inquiries. On January 22 his lawyer was told he would be re-bailed the next day but it is not known whether Mr Burns got that information.

Discussing the last time she saw her son, at around 10pm on January 22, the night before his death, Mr Burns' mother Denise Blackshaw, 63, said: 'He seemed fine and his normal self. He said he was going back to work and left at about 10.30pm.

'I commented on him going back at that time as it was very late, but it wasn't particularly unusual for him to leave at that time. I got a text at 11pm to ask if I wanted anything from Asda and then he told me he was at the training centre.

He was extremely upset about one week or so prior to his death and throughout the following week he was struggling a little Nicola Dearn, a colleague of Mr Burns

'He had been tormenting me and joking with me before he went out. I didn't have any concerns other than what a mother normally has.'

She added: 'At 2.30am I tried to ring him. I woke up and felt anxious for no reason.

'I have no idea why. I tried to ring and there was no reply so I walked to the centre with the dog to see if his car was there. I then spoke to someone who worked in the adjoining building who told me what happened. My son was very private, intensely private with me.'

Nicola Dearn, an IT tutor at Pride Media Association who had known Mr Burns for 18 years, said: 'He was a deep thinker and introverted. He was extremely upset about one week or so prior to his death and throughout the following week he was struggling a little but not too badly.

'I knew something was wrong but he managed to function well. I spoke to him on the phone on January 22 and he gave no indication as to what he might later do.'

Tests showed Mr Burns had 97 microgrammes of alcohol in his blood. The legal drink-drive limit is 80mg. A bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey and a three-quarters full bottle of wine was found next to his body.

The father-of-one had been questioned and bailed by police over allegations of sexual assault on a girl aged under 16. Following his death Mr Burns' family insisted he was 'completely innocent' of any wrongdoing

Mr Burns served on Rochdale Council (pictured) for seven years, before standing down at the last election in May 2014. He also helped set up the Middleton Crisis Support Project charity

Recording a conclusion of suicide, coroner Simon Nelson told the family: 'It is not uncommon, sadly, for young males to have that element of character where they simply can't open up. Be it to individuals they know or even agencies that are designed precisely to assist, such as Samaritans.

'As to "why" - well you probably have those who have read and considered the contents of the communication he left.

'There is intimation within those as to why, but you may feel, without being harsh or critical, that if only he would have taken that opportunity of opening up to one of you.

We are completely devastated because there will now not be the opportunity to prove his innocence Jonathan Burns' nephew, Daniel

'Jonathan was a respected individual in the community who had earned that respect over many years.

'It's clear he was held in great respect by those who knew him and I'm sure every one of you would have gone the extra mile to assist him if only you had known.

'Whatever he was feeling during the last 24, 48 or 72 hours of his life, he was very good at masking those feelings. I hope you will reflect upon the good times and better times you would have had with him. He achieved a great deal during his relatively short life.'

At the time of his death, Mr Burns' nephew, Daniel Burns, said: 'Jonathan was a very public figure, but he was also a very private person and he understood that such a severe allegation would be hugely detrimental and damaging and he wasn't able to cope with it.

'We would have supported him in any subsequent proceedings that may have arose because we believe he was completely innocent. We are completely devastated because there will now not be the opportunity to prove his innocence.'