Police told to reinvestigate suspected Grindr blackmail death after homophobia claims

Police have been told to reexamine claims of homophobia by the complaints watchdog after they made “several errors” in the investigation of the suicide of a man who was allegedly scammed on the dating app Grindr.

Scott Gough was found dead at his home in Hertfordshire two years ago by his partner of 14 years, Cameron Tewson, just one day after a group of men had turned up at his home demanding his car keys and leaving a sinister note.

His death was not investigated as blackmail and was deemed a suicide, despite a report uncovering that police officers had known the phone number used by the gang had been connected to at least four similar cases in Mr Gough’s local area.

After Hertfordshire Constabulary failed to take CCTV footage, evidence such as Mr Gough’s laptop and lost DNA, Mr Tewson launched a complaint accusing the force of discrimination and a potential homophobic bias.

He told The Independent: “Throughout my letters and formal expressions of concern to the police from July 2024 onwards, not one person appeared willing to seriously consider what I was trying to raise: the thread of homophobia that I instinctively felt had influenced the handling of Scott’s case.

“There was a persistent lack of curiosity and understanding, with my concerns repeatedly documented yet seemingly dismissed rather than objectively examined. It felt like a tick-box exercise, where institutional defensiveness took precedence over genuinely confronting whether unconscious bias had shaped key decisions.

“Instead of engaging with those concerns, Scott’s death seemed to become just another statistic, rather than the loss of a person whose case deserved to be fully understood, properly investigated, and treated with the dignity and seriousness it warranted.”

When officers were questioned by the Professional Standards Department, one officer had claimed that Mr Tewson had a “personal vendetta” against them.

An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report has now concluded that the force’s investigation of his complaint was “not reasonable and proportionate”, and they had failed to properly examine whether Mr Gough’s sexuality influenced key investigative decisions.

Prior to his death, Mr Gough had been an outgoing, fun-loving and adventurous person, who was interested in cars, cooking and shared a dog, Otis, with Mr Tewson.

On 28 March 2024, the couple received a knock on the door at Mr Gough’s home in Chandler’s Cross, with six men demanding to speak to the “owner of the white Range Rover”.

The group left a note reading: “I think it’s in your best interest to give me a call. Call this number.” Mr Gough insisted he did not know who the men were, and after calling the police, the call handler deemed there was no danger or threat to life.

Upon returning from visiting family the next day, Mr Tewson discovered him dead upstairs with a note left on the dining table.

Given Mr Gough’s previous use of Grindr, his partner raised it with the police but felt they “had a homophobic assumption of a promiscuous lifestyle”, and said they failed to remove key evidence from the property.

Within seven weeks, the investigation had been closed and deemed a suicide due to “insufficient evidence”. In July 2024, Mr Tewson complained to the Professional Standards Department, which upheld allegations the force had failed to examine links between other cases of blackmail, which led to Mr Gough’s death not being adequately investigated.

This included the phone number on the handwritten note being linked to other reported blackmails involving Grindr, and that the police had identified suspects and visited them to “provide stern words of advice”.

The report found the police “made several errors following the death of [Scott Gough] and did not investigate [his] sudden death fully as a result”.

However, it did not uphold Mr Tewson’s complaint of homophobia so he referred the case to the IOPC. His allegations include an insensitive conversation just one day after Mr Gough’s death, in which an officer said that “people their age either kill themselves due to ill health, money issues or paedophilia”.

An investigation by the IOPC has now concluded the police force should re-investigate two aspects of the complaint: that the police had made “several errors” and did not investigate his death fully, and that “homophobic assumptions may have influenced the investigation”.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Hertfordshire Constabulary would like to reiterate its sincere condolences and sympathy to Mr Tewson at the loss of his partner, Mr Gough.

“The reinvestigation finalised by Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire Professional Standards Department into Mr Tewson’s complaint found that a blackmail investigation should have been considered and the constabulary has sought an independent review of the original investigation.

“This is currently being undertaken by Bedfordshire Police, and they will also take on the new investigation if this is deemed necessary. The progress of all concerns raised as part of Mr Tewson’s complaints are subject to ongoing and senior oversight.”

The force added it is committed to supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community and has dedicated liaison officers in place.

A Grindr spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened by Scott’s death and extend our sincere condolences to Cameron and everyone who loved him. Grindr takes user safety seriously.

“Our community guidelines prohibit blackmail, extortion, and other forms of exploitation or coercion. Accounts found engaging in such conduct may be suspended or permanently removed, including device-level bans.”

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email [email protected], or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.