A top Labour politician is believed to have killed himself days after he was sacked by the Welsh government and suspended by his party over 'shocking' claims of sexual misconduct.
Former minister Carl Sargeant, 48, was found dead at home in Connah's Quay, North Wales, at 11.30am today and police say they are not treating it as suspicious.
His wife Bernie, 48, and children Jack, 23, and Lucy, 25, said they are 'devastated beyond words' because the family have lost 'the glue that bound us together'.
Mr Sargeant was sacked by Carwyn Jones on Friday after at least three women contacted the First Minister's office and made allegations of sexual misconduct.
The father-of-two was in New York with his wife of 25 years when it emerged and he had pledged 'to clear my name' in a statement four days before his death.
Labour has not detailed the allegations but the under fire politician had himself described them as 'shocking and distressing'.
Police and paramedics were called to his North Wales former council house this morning and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was removed by private ambulance this afternoon.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his death was 'terrible and deeply shocking news', adding: 'All allegations [of sexual misconduct] must be examined but there also has to be great care for everybody involved in these accusations'.Labour sources have said that hours before his death he had told friends he was still unaware what the claims against him were, after party officials refused to reveal details of the allegations. He has not been arrested either, police told MailOnline.
Mr Sargeant was a 'much loved husband, father and friend', a statement released by his family said after his death was announced.'Carl was a much loved husband, father and friend. He wasn't simply a part of our family. He was the glue that bound us together. He was the heart of our family. We loved him so very much,' it said.
'He was the most kind and caring husband, father, son and friend.Lifelong childhood friend and fellow Labour Party representative Bernie Attridge wiped away tears as he spoke.Mr Attridge, 46, the deputy leader of Flintshire County Council, speaking at the local Labour Club, said: 'I'm absolutely distraught. He was a personal friend of mine. I've known Carl all my life. We've grown up together in Connah's Quay.
'Carl was very instrumental in saving this club that we are standing in now from closing.
'Today I find myself in very dark days. It's such a sad loss of such a great friend of mine. My heartfelt thoughts are with Bernadette his wife, Jack his son and Lucy his daughter.
'At the end of the day allegations were made, I'm a great believer you are innocent until proven guilty.
'I don't know the details of the suspension, I know he's a very loyal man.'
Mr Attridge said Mr Sargeant worked as an industrial firefighter at a local factory and became a member of Connah's Quay town council as his political career began.
He added: 'He was an excellent constituent Assembly Member, nothing was too much trouble for him. Even when we were out in here enjoying ourselves, having private time on a Saturday night, on many occasions if anyone had any issues Carl was first on the scene, first to take details, it wasn't, 'ring me' he was very approachable.
'He fought hard for Alyn and Deeside.'
Proceedings at the Welsh Assembly were cancelled for the day today.
Carwyn Jones said : 'Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death. He made a big contribution to Welsh public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a minister and local assembly member. He will be a great loss to our party and to the Senedd.'
'We are devastated beyond words, and we know our grief will be shared by all those who knew and loved him. We are in shock and grief'.
Family members hugged each other on the drive of the mid-terrace former council house where Mr Sargeant lived, round the corner from the school where his wife works as a teaching assistant, as a black private ambulance left the property, guarded by police.
A neighbour across the road from his home, who did not want to be named, said: 'He's got a wife and children over there, my heart goes out to them, it's shocking.
'I've known him since being a child. He would be going about canvassing with the local MPs and that type of stuff.
'He's a man who still lives in an ex-council house, he's down to earth and a family man. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?'
Another local said: 'He's a lovely, loyal, honest man, who would do anything to help anyone.
'He would try his hardest to sort anything out for you, no matter who you were or where you came from. He knew his roots.
'These allegations, it's all a load of c***.'
North Wales Police said its officers were investigating Mr Sargeant's death but say it was not suspicious.
Superintendent Mark Pierce of North Wales Police said: 'At approximately 11.30am today North Wales Police were called to a report that the body of a man had been found at an address in Connah's Quay.
'The man has been formally identified as local AM Carl Sargeant. His next of kin have been informed and police are supporting the family.
'North Wales Police are not treating his death as suspicious'.
His death represents a dark turn for the harassment scandal that had rocked British politics and has led to calls for anonymity to those accused of sexual allegations or sex crimes.
Eight Tory MPs and three Labour MPs have been embroiled in allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Theresa May brought party leaders together for a meeting last night in a bid to bolster protection for politicians' staff.Carl Sargeant was on holiday with his wife Bernie in New York last week when the allegations broke about his conduct towards women.
Father-of-two Mr Sargeant returned from his family US break to be called into the office of the Labour First Minister Carwyn Jones to be sacked.
On Friday Mr Sargeant insisted he had resigned after being told that 'shocking and distressing' allegations had been made against him. But Labour party sources said he was sacked.
Welsh Labour leader Mr Jones said he had to remove him from his post after learning of 'certain incidents' involving several women.He said: 'My office spoke to the women involved, as a result of those discussions I felt there was no choice other than to refer the matter to my own party for further investigation.'
Mr Sargeant had the party whip removed and has been suspended by Welsh Labour while an investigation was conducted.
The married father-of-two met First Minister Carwyn Jones on Friday morning, when Mr Jones told him he had to go.
Mr Sargeant, a former chief whip and environment minister, had vowed to clear his name before his death.
In a statement released on Friday, Mr Sargeant said: 'I met with the First Minister today and he informed me allegations had been made about my personal conduct, which was shocking and distressing to me.
'The details of the allegations have yet to be disclosed to me. I have written to the General Secretary of Welsh Labour requesting an urgent independent investigation into these allegations in order to allow me to clear my name.
'Given the nature of the allegations, I agreed with the First Minister that it was right that I stand aside from cabinet.
'I look forward to returning to Government once my name has been cleared. I won't be commenting further at this stage.'
Tory MP Nigel Evans has been pushing for defendants in sex offence cases should get anonymity on the same level as people.
The former Deputy Speaker was cleared of charges of sexual assault after a court battle in 2014.
Mr Evans stressed he did not know Mr Sargeant, and was not aware of the specific allegations he faced.
But the senior MP told MailOnline he believed Mr Sarjeant might not have killed himself if he had not been named.
'I still believe – I have held this view all along – that had the allegations been made and had he had some anonymity, he would probably still be alive today,' Mr Evans said.
'There is immense pressure. The whole thing is played out in the public eye.'
Mr Evans said he understood the argument that publicity could mean more victims come forward, but insisted that when serious accusations were made the issue would go to court anyway.
He suggested that people facing sexual allegations should be granted anonymity until the point of charge.
Referring to Mr Sargeant, Mr Evans said: 'Who knows exactly what has been through his mind, but there is immense stress when allegations are made. Some people are unable to cope. Clearly in this case that looks to be the case.'
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