Former Police Officer Discovered Deceased Before Scheduled Court Appearance on Child Sex Charges
A former police officer who had been charged with multiple counts of indecent assault and sexual assault against children has been found dead at his home, just one day before he was due to appear in court. Simon Knott, aged 57, faced four serious allegations involving two female victims, including a girl under the age of 14, with the reported incidents said to have occurred between 1990 and 2013.
Court Hearing Abruptly Cancelled Following Discovery
Knott, who resided in Ogwell, Devon, had been listed to appear at Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court on March 19, 2026. However, the hearing was unexpectedly removed from the court schedule the previous day. It has since been confirmed that Knott was discovered deceased at his residence, leading to the formal withdrawal of the case against him.
The specific charges included:
- Indecent assault on a girl under 16
- Indecent assault on a girl over 16
- Indecent assault on a girl under 14
- Sexual assault of a female
Police and Emergency Services Response
On the morning of March 17, officers were alerted to a welfare concern for a man in his 50s at a property in Ogwell. Upon gaining entry, they discovered the body of a man. Paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust were also called to the scene, where the man was pronounced dead.
Devon and Cornwall Police stated that the death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner, and an inquest will be held in due course. The force confirmed that the reported offences were disclosed to them in 2024.
Legal Proceedings and Case Discontinuation
The initial hearing at Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court was adjourned and rescheduled for March 23 at Taunton Magistrates’ Court in Somerset. This was to allow the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to conduct further inquiries. During the Taunton hearing, the CPS withdrew the case, with the court file noting that the defendant was now deceased.
Devon and Cornwall Police issued a statement: "Simon Knott, aged 57, of Rowan Close, Newton Abbot, had been due to appear before Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 19 March. Mr Knott had been summoned to court to be charged with three counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault between 1990 and 2013."
Background and Police Service
Simon Knott served as a Devon & Cornwall Police officer from 1989 to 2018. He is understood to have worked at several police stations during his career, including Charles Cross and Crownhill in Plymouth, as well as Camborne, Newquay, Torquay, Chudleigh, and Redruth.
The charges he was due to face were related to reported incidents that occurred while he was off-duty and are not believed to be linked to his policing role. Due to prior police contact with Knott, the force has notified the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in line with statutory responsibilities.
The case has now been formally discontinued following Knott's death, marking a tragic end to the legal proceedings that were set to unfold in court.
