POLICE carried out a raid on the home of a couple days before their deaths in a suicide pact.

Officers from Metropolitan Police executed a search warrant at the address of Peter and Deborah McGuinness as part of an investigation into the sharing of indecent images of children.

Ex-Army couple Mr and Mrs McGuinness were found dead in a hired Range Rover in the car park of Durlston Country park, Lighthouse Road, Swanage, on August 3, last year.

An inquest held in Bournemouth this week heard that Deborah, 49, and husband Peter, 54, had driven to Purbeck from their home in Kingston upon Thames.

Dorset Coroner Rachael Griffin was told that the couple were visited by PC Vicky Currie, and colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation team on July 29, 2020.

The officer told the court: "In the morning I went to the home address. I had no previous contact with them. They were assisting police with their enquiries.

"They were both spoken to together on the day and both of them seemed fine, happy and were joking with us.

"When we left I had no concerns and they didn't mention anything to us or any mental health going on, both were completely fine when we left the address."

A Met spokesperson said: "Officers from the Met executed a search warrant at the address of Mr and Mrs McGuinness as part of an investigation into the sharing of indecent images of children.

"No arrests were made and a number of devices were seized from the property. This investigation was ongoing at the time of their death.

"As is usual after a death following police contact, a referral was made to the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards and the IOPC. No misconduct issues were identified."

A post mortem investigation determined the cause of death as carbon monoxide poisoning.

Mrs Griffin recorded a conclusion of suicide.

Anyone can contact Samaritans free any time on 116 123.