Hampshire Police chief constable ‘had affairs with two female inspectors and made one delete messages revealing fling’ misconduct panel told

A former chief constable ‘abused his position’ and showed a ‘lack of self control’ when he had affairs with two junior officers, a misconduct hearing was told.  

Scott Chilton, 52, was a married superintendent when he is said to have begun a relationship with the first woman – a sergeant – with some of the sexual activity having ‘occurred whilst he was on duty’.

He later turned up at her police station in a ‘smart car’ to end their affair, the panel was told. 

Mr Chilton began a relationship with a second junior colleague just weeks after being handed the top job at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, the tribunal heard. 

He is said to have then pressurised her into deleting text messages when he feared their affair was about to be exposed. Both women went on to achieve the rank of inspector.  

On the first day of a misconduct hearing, Mr Chilton was accused of ‘abusing his position’ by having a sexual relationship with a subordinate officer and failing to show self control. 

Lawyers representing the Police and Crime Commissioner also accused him of ‘barefaced, brazen dishonesty’ over his claims that the first affair didn’t happen. 

Mr Chilton retired ‘prematurely’ from the role of chief constable in April 2025, after the allegations of the two workplace relationships first emerged. 

In a statement, former Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Chief Constable Scott Chilton admitted to one of the ‘historic relationships between consenting adults’, but ‘strongly disputed’ the second alleged relationship.

At the start of the disciplinary hearing at Eastleigh on Monday, James Berry KC, said Mr Chilton would not be attending the hearing because of ‘medical issues’ and he would no longer be representing him during the proceedings.

He said the situation was ‘unlikely to change’ and chairwoman Michelle Skeer, of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, ruled the hearing should continue in Mr Chilton’s absence and without hearing from witnesses in the case.

John Beggs KC, representing the Office of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, told the hearing that Mr Chilton faced four charges relating to the relationships with two female officers referred to as Officers A and B.

The relationship with Officer A, which is denied by Mr Chilton, is alleged to have taken place between 2008 and 2012 with some of the sexual activity having ‘occurred whilst he was on duty’.

He is also accused of ‘repetitively failing to disclose’ the relationship and also attempting to ‘avoid a referral’ about it to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in February 2025.

Mr Beggs added that, in interview, Officer A had said: ‘The affair happened and it was consensual. It was sexual and we had intercourse on a number of occasions. I was single at the time of the affair.’

Mr Beggs said that Mr Chilton had admitted the relationship with Officer B which happened just weeks after he was appointed chief constable of Hampshire in February 2023, but denied that he had ‘abused his position for a sexual purpose’.

He said that Mr Chilton’s failure to declare this relationship ‘epitomises the lack of honesty and integrity on his part’.

Mr Beggs said Mr Chilton ‘failed to demonstrate self control and abused his authority towards officer B’. 

He said Mr Chilton, who was ‘highly experienced and forensically aware’ then ‘applied pressure to her to delete or conceal evidence concerning the relationship’. 

The former chief constable said in a statement issued at the start of the hearing that he admitted to one of the ‘historic relationships between consenting adults’, but ‘strongly disputed’ the second alleged relationship.

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.’

He added that his ‘deepest regret’ was for his family ‘for the hurt caused by my poor judgment and actions’.

The hearing continues.