A FORMER Teignbridge police officer who was facing charges of indecent assault has been found dead.

Simon Knott, 57, of Ogwell was accused of four charges relating to two females - one a girl aged under 14 - between 1990 and 2013.

The former Devon and Cornwall Police officer, who served on the force from 1989 to 2018, was due to appear at Newton Abbot magistrates court last week.

Police have confirmed that Mr Knott, of Rowan Close, had been due to appear before Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court on Thursday March 19.

Mr Knott had been summonsed to court to be charged with three counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault between 1990 and 2013.

The reported offences were disclosed to Devon and Cornwall Police in 2024.

A police spokesman said: ‘Mr Knott was found deceased on Tuesday 17 March.

‘His death is not being treated as suspicious and officers are assisting HM Coroner.

‘Due to Mr Knott’s death, the case was discontinued following a hearing at Taunton Deane and West Somerset Magistrates’ Court on Monday March 23.

‘The charges he was due to face in court related to reported incidents when he was off-duty and were not believed to be linked to his policing role.

‘The Force has notified the Independent Office for Police Conduct [IOPC], in line with its statutory responsibilities, due to prior police contact with Mr Knott.’

He had faced a number of charges including one count of indecent assault on a girl aged under 16, one count of indecent assault of a girl over 16 , one count of indecent assault on a girl aged under 14 and one count of sexual assault on a female.

On March 17, police were alerted to concerns for the welfare of a man in his 50s at a property in Ogwell.

Officers attended and, after gaining entry, discovered the body of a man who was declared dead at the scene.