Two senior police officers ‘sent each other grossly offensive WhatsApp messages about women they met in their jobs’
- Ex-inspector Scott Snowden denied the charges at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court
- Co-defendant former Superintendent Ed Cook was not present for the hearing
- Humberside Police declined to comment until court proceedings are concluded
Two former senior police officers are accused of sending each other grossly offensive and sexually-charged WhatsApp messages about women they met at work.
Scott Snowden, a former Grimsby police inspector and the recently named new resort manager for Cleethorpes, appeared before magistrates yesterday to deny the charges.
His co-defendant was named in court as Edward Cook, better known as former Superintendent Ed Cook, but he was not present for the hearing.
Snowden, 48, of New Waltham, denied sending a message by a public electronics communications network that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing nature at Scunthorpe between January 21, 2017 and October 12, 2018.
Scott Snowden, pictured left, a former Grimsby police inspector appeared before magistrates yesterday to deny the charges but co-defendant, former Superintendent Ed Cook, pictured right, was not present for the hearing
He was previously accused of misconduct in public office but that summons was said to have been issued ‘in error’ and was replaced by the new one.
Wearing a dark suit, light shirt and yellow patterned tie, Snowden appeared via a video link at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court, sitting at a distance behind his solicitor.
He spoke to confirm his details, address and to enter his Not Guilty plea.
Prosecutor Geraldine Kelly told the court: ‘There is another defendant called Edward Cook, who is charged with the same offence.’
The charge related to conversations or messages being sent between the two of them or from one to the other on WhatsApp.
Snowden was previously a Humberside Police officer, she said.
Cook was due to be represented in the future by leading barrister Jason Pitter QC, said Miss Kelly.
She added that it had been hoped that both Snowden and Cook would appear in court together so that a pre-trial hearing could be held.
District judge Daniel Curtis expressed surprise that this had not happened and added that he was ‘in the dark’ about the reason.
Snowden’s solicitor, Julian Gaskin, said that it was likely that legal arguments would be put forward at a future hearing.
Details of the case were heard yesterday at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court, pictured
The case was adjourned to link up with that of Cook.
A decision is likely to be made on where any trial is held and who it will be heard before.
Snowden, who is on summons rather than bail, had the matter against him adjourned.
Humberside Police has declined to comment until court proceedings are concluded.
When Snowden was appointed to the Cleethorpes resort manager job, it was announced that he would take charge of beach safety and tourist information in the resort.
He would also be a focal point for local businesses and residents so they could raise things that needed dealing with and be the main link to council services.
He said at the time: ‘I’m keen to get businesses large and small to work together for the benefit of the resort – that’s going to be the main focus of my work for the next year.
‘We’re all here trying to do one thing – to make sure that Cleethorpes is a fun and safe place to visit, where people come and want to return.
‘If, in a year’s time, I can look back and say that I’ve done my best to bring things together in the resort and we’re all working better together, I’ll be a happy man!’