Police chief who had sex with rookie officer resigns before hearing

A married police chief who breached Covid guidelines to have sex with a glamorous rookie police officer under his command resigned ahead of his misconduct hearing today.

Chief Superintendent Daniel Greenwood, 41, abused his position by striking up an illicit relationship with student officer Caitlin Howarth.

Greenwood, Bradford's district commander, swapped flirtatious texts and sexually explicit pictures with the university graduate, 17 years his junior.

He yesterday resigned from his 20-year career ahead of his police misconduct hearing - on the same day criminal misconduct charges were dropped against Howarth.

She was alleged to have failed to report links to Joseph Shaw, a convicted drug dealer who once appeared on Channel 4's First Dates.

Howarth, who resigned the force, remains subject to a misconduct investigation over the affair. 

Greenwood's disciplinary hearing heard today that the district commander abused his position and exploited the age gap having helped her join West Yorkshire Police aged 20.

The 'obviously inappropriate' fling between the pair caused 'tittle-tattle and gossip in the ranks'.

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In an opening statement, John Beggs, KC, representing the force, said: 'Whatever her sexual desires for Greenwood, it ought reasonably to have been obvious to an officer of [his] length of service, age, and rank that she was vulnerable in any relationship with him by reason of the stark disparity in age and rank.'

At a hearing in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, a panel was told how Greenwood twice had sex with the young woman after he successfully helped her apply for a job.

But when the affair came to light in November 2021, Greenwood attempted to perform a factory reset on his iPhone to conceal the evidence.

In an opening address, in which Ms Howarth was referred to as Miss A, Mr Beggs said: 'Greenwood's conduct towards Miss A over the period…amounts to an abuse of position for a sexual purpose.

'An officer of Greenwood's experience, service and rank knew, or ought to have known, that his sexual dalliances with his probationer were bound to bring discredit upon the police service, as indeed they have in numerous unfortunate media articles.

Greenwood was first introduced to Miss A by her mother in 2019, who was a governor at his children's primary school, seeking advice on how she could join the police after leaving university.

But the tribunal heard that his motivations 'morphed, at least in part, into sexual self-interest'.

By the summer of 2020 the pair - who both had partners - mutually messaged each other with sexual images. The texts continued until she was arrested in November 2021, the panel heard.

When the couple had sex in January 2021, Greenwood - the force's silver commander for Bradford's Covid response - 'probably breached' stay-at-home rules by visiting her flat.

Mr Beggs said: 'Greenwood would obviously have known that a chief superintendent having sex with a probationary officer during a Covid lockdown would be likely to bring discredit upon the police service.'

When quizzed over the illicit liaisons, Greenwood told investigators that the 'sexual attraction and flirtation was mutual' and 'was habitually initiated by Miss A'.

Through his representatives, he told investigating officers Miss A had wanted to leave her boyfriend and 'found older men…more attractive'.

She, in turn, said she did not have sex with Greenwood because of his rank but 'because I was going through a rough time with my boyfriend'.

She told investigators: 'I think it's because after a few months of speaking to him and going through a rough time with my boyfriend I ended up getting feelings and then that's how it happened.

She added: 'He always asked me to delete the messages. I think he deleted them so that his wife didn't see but he used to say make sure you delete the pictures or delete the messages. Towards the end I didn't cos I didn't think. I didn't know why I needed to. I think he deleted them from my iCloud at his request.'

Matters unravelled in October 2021 when Miss A turned to Greenwood for advice after meeting Joseph Shaw on Tinder, whose brother Daniel was in prison at the time.

When she told Greenwood of her contact with Shaw, he ironically replied: 'He won't stop until he's shagged you. That's not ok.'

The used car salesman, 29, was jailed for six-and-a-half years in January 2023 after admitting a drugs supply plot with his brother Daniel, 25.

He provided one of First Dates' most memorable TV moments by revealing he had already met his blind date on the train — and they had spent the night together.

Howarth was due to face a trial in York next year charged with misconduct in a public office.

But yesterday, the Crown Prosecution Service said criminal proceedings had been halted and that no evidence would be offered.

Greenwood, whose wife is undergoing treatment for cancer, was not present at the hearing in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, but admitted discreditable conduct amounting to gross misconduct.

He admitted exchanging sexually explicit messages but 'believed she was mature and had adult capacity to engage in a sexual relationship with him'.

A panel will decide tomorrow if his conduct would have led to his dismissal had he not resigned.

Hugh Davies, KC, representing Greenwood said he suffered post-traumatic stress and was not fit to give evidence.

He said: 'A highly promising police career has ended. Many perceived he had the potential to become a chief officer. That is all now gone.

'Behind the high achievements at work is a complex personality with addictive characteristics. This manifested historically as alcohol addiction throughout his career. He could be characterised as being a high functioning alcoholic.'

The tribunal heard that Greenwood's wife is undergoing treatment for cancer. Mr Davies added: 'This is a family under acute and continued strain. He wants to rebuild for them as they have in the last three years for him.'