Ex-chief constable found dishonest in misconduct ruling over affairs
Scott Chilton's actions deemed gross misconduct by tribunal
A former chief constable showed a “sense of entitlement”, “dishonesty and lack of integrity” by having sexual relationships with two subordinate officers, including engaging in sexual activity while on duty and on call to head any major incident, a tribunal has ruled.
Scott Chilton retired from the top role at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in April 2025, after the allegations emerged of workplace relationships with two colleagues referred to as officers A and B.
The panel of the misconduct hearing held in Eastleigh found the 53-year-old had committed four charges following the two affairs.
They found he had a sexual relationship with Officer A between 2008 and 2012 while ranked as a superintendent, repetitively failed to disclose it and engaged in sexual activity whilst on duty.
They also found he abused his position for a sexual purpose by engaging in the relationship with Officer B and again repetitively failing to disclose it.
Chairwoman Michelle Skeer, of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, said Mr Chilton’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct on each of the charges.
She said: “Former chief constable (FCC) Chilton’s behaviour showed persistent dishonesty and lack of integrity.”
She said he had acted in a “domineering” fashion towards his colleagues in a bid to “control the narrative” in relation to responding to press inquiries about the allegations.
She said: “The panel concluded that FCC Chilton’s behaviour was intentional, deliberate and planned.
“He was in the highest position of trust as the most senior officer in the constabulary and ought to have known the foreseeable risk of harm by having a covert relationship.
“He repeatedly lied by act and omission about both his relationships with Officer A and Officer B and he knew that this was wrong.
“His conduct was a serious, deliberate and sustained attempt to mislead the PCC and colleagues to subvert any negative impact on himself.
“All police officers are in a position of trust, however FCC Chilton was in the highest position of trust, he would have been privy to confidential and sensitive information on colleagues, security and national policing matters.
“There was evidence that he was discussing issues which he shouldn’t have been discussing with Officer B during WhatsApp message exchanges.”
Ms Skeer said that Mr Chilton had attempted to “bully” Officer B into “keeping quiet” by asking her to “delete and double delete” their messages and not to go to events that his wife would attend, which showed the “power imbalance” between them.
The chairwoman also said Mr Chilton had engaged in sexual activity with Officer A while on duty and in silver command, which meant he would have been the officer in charge if a major incident occurred.
She said: “The panel was without doubt that a member of the public would find it wholly unacceptable that while on duty he engaged in sexual activity, his actions brought Hampshire Constabulary into disrepute.”
Ms Skeer added that “his actions were driven by his own entitlement”, and the “abuse of his position was for personal gain and ultimately his own sexual gratification”.
John Beggs KC, representing the appropriate authority, the Office of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, said the allegations against Mr Chilton came to light following disciplinary proceedings against former detective chief inspector Roger Wood in February 2025. He had stated during his hearing that the chief constable “has had affairs”.
Mr Beggs said Mr Wood had exchanged messages with Officer A in which they discussed her relationship with Mr Chilton, who was referred to as the “earl of terracotta” as an “in-joke”.
He said Mr Wood wrote: “It’s just agonising that Scott Chilton earl of terracotta can shag on duty, say I’ve done nowt wrong and have a giggle about it but does nothing to intervene in this madness.”
He said Officer B had told her line manager in March 2025 that her “intimate relationship” with Mr Chilton had started two years earlier and he had told her he was divorced despite him being married for a second time in 2022.
Mr Beggs added in his written summary of the case that when Officer B was interviewed by the IOPC, the attention Mr Chilton, who was an officer for 33 years, gave her was “what the doctor ordered… you know, someone who actually understood”.
The former chief constable, who did not attend the tribunal and was not legally represented, said in a statement that he admitted the relationship with Officer B but “strongly disputed” the relationship with Officer A.
He said: “I fully accept that my actions in not disclosing that relationship fell short of the standards that police officers are judged by.
“These were personal matters, rather than issues affecting policing or public safety, and at no point did this relationship influence policing decisions, operational matters, or the discharge of professional responsibilities.
“I strongly dispute some of the issues raised by this investigation, but resolution was required. However, I regret the embarrassment and distraction this has caused.”