Former Police Officer Dies Before Assault Charges Hearing

Simon Knott, a 57-year-old former Devon and Cornwall Police officer, was found dead at his home in Ogwell, Devon, on March 17, just one day before he was scheduled to appear in court on charges of indecent and sexual assault involving two females, including a girl under 14.

The allegations against Knott stemmed from incidents reported to have occurred between 1990 and 2013. He faced three counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault. The offenses involved one count of indecent assault on a girl under 16, one on a girl over 16, one on a girl under 14, and one sexual assault on a female. Police received the reports in 2024, leading to Knott being summoned to Newton Abbot Magistrates Court on March 19.

That hearing was abruptly removed from the schedule on March 18. Court records show it was adjourned to be heard outside the local force area and rescheduled for March 23 at Taunton Magistrates Court in Somerset. The move allowed the Crown Prosecution Service to conduct further inquiries. At the Taunton hearing, prosecutors withdrew the case after noting that Knott had died.

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