A 36-YEAR-old bachelor jumped to his death at a North-East beauty spot after his boss caught him stealing money to pay prostitutes, it has been claimed.

The body of Roland Bellwood was found under Levens Viaduct, south of Yarm, on the A19 yesterday morning.

It is thought he leapt from the 100ft-high bridge just hours after his manager confronted him about stealing a substantial amount of cash from the company safe.

An inquest into his death opened on Thursday and the coroner will now carry out a full investigation into the circumstances.

Mr Bellwood, who lived with his mother in Daleston Avenue, Linthorpe, worked as a driver for George Kane's car recovery business in Stonehouse Lane, Middlesbrough.

Mr Kane, who is also Middlesbrough's special constable district commandant, said the whole company was shocked and saddened by the tragedy.

He said: "He was a lovely lad who got on with everyone, but in the last six or seven months he got involved with the wrong sort of people.

"He took money from the garage and I confronted him.

"I told him that if he had taken it I would treat it as a loan and he could pay it back.

"What he did was totally out of character."

Mr Bellwood has worked at the firm since he left school as a 17-year-old nearly 20 years ago.

His mother, Norma, said the family did not know what prompted her son to apparently take his own life.

She said: "It is a shock to all of us - we have no idea what brought this on. As far as we know he was not in any trouble with the police and hadn't suffered any kind of depression.

"It has come completely out of the blue."

Members of Teesside Model Boat Club, where Mr Bellwood was an enthusiastic member, were equally shocked.

Club member Eddie Ranson said: "He was quite a popular chap and a very keen boat builder. It was his only passion. He seemed very at home with us."