A married police chief who breached Covid guidelines by having sex with a glamorous new police officer under his command has resigned ahead of his misconduct hearing today.
Chief Superintendent Daniel Greenwood, 41, abused his position by entering into an illicit relationship with student officer Caitlin Howarth.
Greenwood, the Bradford district commander, exchanged flirtatious texts and sexually explicit pictures with the university graduate, 17 years his junior.
Yesterday he resigned from his 20-year career ahead of his police hearing – on the same day criminal misconduct charges were dropped against Howarth.
She has been accused of failing to renounce links with Joseph Shaw, a convicted drug dealer who once appeared on Channel 4’s Prime Dates.
Chief Superintendent Daniel Greenwood (pictured) abused his position by having an illicit relationship with student officer Caitlin Howarth.
Caitlin Howarth (pictured), 24, had criminal misconduct charges dropped after it was alleged she failed to renounce links with a convicted drug dealer.
Howarth, who resigned from the force, remains subject to a misconduct investigation.
Greenwood’s disciplinary hearing heard today that the district commander abused his position and exploited the age gap that helped him join West Yorkshire Police 20 years ago.
The “obviously inappropriate” fury between the pair caused “tittle-tittle and gossip in the ranks”.
In an opening statement, John Beggs, KC, representing the force, said: “Whatever his sexual desires for Greenwood, it should reasonably have been obvious to an officer of (his) length of service, age and rank that he was vulnerable in any relationship with him because of the marked disparity in age and rank.
At a hearing in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, a panel was told that Greenwood twice had sex with the young woman after she successfully helped him apply for a job.
But when the affair came to light in November 2021, Greenwood tried to do a factory reset on his iPhone to hide 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 at the time … amounted to an abuse of position for a sexual purpose.
“An officer of Greenwood’s experience, service and rank knew, or should have known, that his sexual relations with his probationer were bound to bring disrepute to the police service, as indeed l ‘ have done in numerous unfortunate media articles.
Greenwood was first introduced to Miss A in 2019 by her mother, who was a governor at her children’s primary school, seeking advice on how she could join the police force after leaving university.
But the court heard that his motivations “mutated, at least in part, into sexual interest.”
At a hearing in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, a panel was told that Greenwood had sex twice with the young woman (pictured) after she successfully helped him apply for a job.
Greenwood was first introduced to Howarth (pictured) in 2019 by his mother, who was a governor at her children’s primary school, seeking advice on how he could join the police after leaving the university
In the summer of 2020, the couple – who both had partners – messaged each other with sexual images. The tests will continue until she is arrested in November 2021, the panel heard.
When the couple had sex in January 2021, Greenwood – the silver commander of Bradford’s Covid response force – “probably breached” stay-at-home rules by visiting her flat.
Mr Beggs said: “Greenwood obviously knew that a chief superintendent having sex with a probation officer during a Covid lockdown could bring the police service into disrepute.”
When questioned about the illicit liaisons, Greenwood told investigators that “the sexual attraction and flirtation was mutual” and “was usually initiated by Miss A.”
Through her representatives, she told investigating officers that Miss A had wanted to leave her boyfriend and “found older men … more attractive”.
She, in turn, said that she did not have sex with Greenwood because of his degree, but “because I was going through a hard time with my boyfriend.”
She told the investigator: “I think it’s because after a few months of talking to him and going through a hard time with my friend, I ended up having feelings and then this happened.
She added: “He kept asking me to delete the messages. I thought he deleted them so his wife didn’t see it, but he said make sure you delete the photos or delete the messages. Towards the end I didn’t know why I didn’t think so. I didn’t know why I needed to delete them from my iCloud.
Things came to a head 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 he told Greenwood about his contact with Shaw, he ironically replied: “He won’t stop until he apologizes to you. It’s not good.
The used car salesman, 29, was jailed for six-and-a-half years in January 2023 after admitting a drug supply plot with his brother Daniel, 25.
He provided one of the most memorable First Dates moments by revealing that he had already met his Czech date on the train – and they had spent the night together.
Joseph Shaw, 29, was jailed for six and a half years in January 2023 after admitting a drug supply plot with his brother Daniel.
He provided one of the most memorable moments of First Dates by revealing that he had already met his date on the train – and they had spent the night together.
Howarth was due to face trial in York next year on charges of misconduct in public office.
But yesterday, the Crown Prosecution Service said that the criminal proceedings had been stopped and that there would be no evidence.
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 to exchanging sexually explicit messages, but “believed that she was mature and had the adult capacity to engage in a sexual relationship with him.”
A panel will decide tomorrow whether 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 unfit to give evidence.
He said: “A very promising police career is over. Many perceived that he had the potential to become a leader. It’s all gone now.
“Behind the high successes at work is a complex personality with addictive characteristics. This has historically manifested as alcohol addiction throughout his career. He could be characterized by being a high-functioning alcoholic.
The court heard Greenwood’s wife is undergoing treatment for cancer. Mr Davies added: “This is a family under acute and continued stress. We need to rebuild for them as I have the last three years for him.