A DEPRESSED Dorset Police officer drowned after his wife talked about them splitting up, an inquest was told today.

Inspector Neil Munro's body was found washed ashore along the Sandbanks peninsular in Poole Harbour, on March 13.

He had suffered from a chronic form of depression for around 10 years which had put pressure on his relationship, prompting his wife to suggest the break-up.

He boarded the 11.45pm ferry sailing from Poole to Cherbourg, France, as a lone foot passenger on March 12.

A house manager discovered his body under a jetty attached to the multimillion-pound home of property magnate David Russell and his wife Valerie in Panorama Road, dubbed Millionaire's Row.

A post-mortem showed the married father of one had drowned, Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset Coroner's Court was told today.

Coroner Sheriff Payne recorded an open verdict and said it was a mystery how he ended up in the water.

The 43-year-old was born in Dunoon, Scotland, and lived in Bournemouth with his wife, Mel, 33, and their two-year-old son, Jack.