The death of a “larger than life” police officer has left a large hole in his family.

Those are the words of Jon Brighton, former Suffolk chief superintendent, who was talking following the inquest of Adrian Calton at IP City Centre in Ipswich yesterday.

Mr Calton, who was 53 and from Stowmarket, was a former inspector with Suffolk Constabulary and known to friends as Ady.

He was discovered on the railway line near Needham Market on October 5 last year.

Mr Brighton, a friend and former colleague of Mr Calton’s who attended the inquest, said he was someone who cared deeply about the community.

“He was a larger than life character, very gregarious, a good leader of men and women in the police service and he left his mark within Suffolk Constabulary and the community,” Mr Brighton said.

“I think he found retiring from the police service hard, and working in the legal services helped him maintain that contact with the colleagues within the police service and the life he knew as a police officer.

“His wife Karen is still grieving and trying to come to terms with what Adrian has done and there will be unanswered questions.

“He was a devoted family man, cared deeply about Karen’s children and would do anything for them.”

Evidence presented to the inquest said Mr Calton’s body had been spotted by a lorry driver visiting a quarry near the railway line shortly before 8am on October 5. Police were called to the scene and an investigation carried out by the British Transport Police (BTP).

Speaking at the inquest was Gary Mathias, an investigator for the BTP.

He said trains which had passed through the area before the discovery of Mr Calton’s body had been examined and their drivers questioned, but they had been unable to find out which service he had been struck by.

However, the extent of his injuries meant he had definitely been hit by a train, the inquest heard.

Also read to the court was part of one of two letters written by Mr Calton before his death. In it he mentioned suicide, while the other letter was said to refer to issues in his marriage.

However, his wife Karen said she was happy because they were issues he was willing to sort out and added in a statement to the inquest: “The fact Ady had taken his own life was a complete shock.”

Recording a conclusion of suicide, assistant coroner Nigel Parsley said: “It’s a case that is tragic but it is also a case that has many unanswered questions.

“There is no evidence at what time he was struck but he clearly was at some time struck by a train.”