A FORMER Wirral post-master, jailed for stealing £50,000 to fund his daughter's spending sprees, has drowned in Tenerife after making an apparent suicide bid with his wife.

William Ainscow, 75, and his wife Wendy apparently took a large quantity of anti-depressants and then jumped into the sea.

They were discovered floating in the water by a fishing boat near Los Cristianos on Tuesday

When emergency services arrived they managed to save Mrs Ainscow, 64, but her husband was already dead.

Mr Ainscow, from Prenton, was jailed for 18 months last January for stealing £50,000 while working as a postmaster.

He was freed on appeal after the judge heard how he had been driven to take the money because of the demands of his daughter, Lisa, who has Asperger syndrome.

After his release the Ainscows said that they had previously attempted to commit suicide together in Wales but had been foiled in the attempt when staff at the hotel they were staying grew suspicious and informed authorities.

Mr Ainscow had also said that suicide was something the couple might attempt again.

Police on Tenerife began searching for the couple after receiving a warning that they were on their way and planned to kill themselves.

Emergency services arrived to find Mr Ainscow dead and Mrs Ainscow unconscious and in a serious condition.

A spokesman for international police organ-isation Interpol said: "The couple's daughter reported them missing to West Midlands Police on Saturday and told them her parents had gone to Spain to commit suicide."