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Police have been told to reinvestigate claims that a botched investigation into a gay man's suicide was tainted by homophobia - after he was allegedly blackmailed through Grindr before he died.

Scott Gough, 56, was found dead at his country lane home near Rickmansworth on March 29 2024, a day after a gang of six young men banged on his door and left a threatening note, telling him it was 'in his best interest' to call them.

It had been addressed to 'the owner of the white Range Rover': Mr Gough was a high-flying head of business for a Jaguar Land Rover dealer who had just picked up the new luxury car.

His long-term partner Cameron Tewson, 33, found him the next day, along with a handwritten last will and testament. An inquest ruled he died of asphyxiation.

Mr Tewson believes that his partner was being blackmailed by the gang after they found him on the gay hookup app Grindr.

But Hertfordshire Police botched its inquiries, closing the case in a matter of weeks due to a 'lack of evidence' despite identifying and speaking to suspects, who remain at large.

An internal professional standards report initially absolved the police of any wrongdoing in the investigation and ruled out homophobic bias.

But Mr Tewson appealed to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for a review, which found that the investigation had been botched and that the threshold for a blackmail charge had been met.

The watchdog, which found there was 'unclear rationale' for actions taken by police, has now ordered the force to re-investigate whether homophobic bias may have hampered the probe.

Scott Gough (right) with his partner Cameron Tewson. Mr Gough took his own life in March 2024 after being approached by a suspected Grindr blackmail gang

A threatening note was left outside Mr Gough's home by a gang using a phone number that was later linked to two other alleged incidents of Grindr-related blackmail

To Mr Tewson's anger, the claims of discrimination were set to be re-analysed by the same investigator who had absolved the force. However, a new officer was assigned on Wednesday, one day after the Daily Mail got in touch to ask why.

Neighbouring force Bedfordshire Police is independently reviewing the circumstances of Mr Gough's death.

Speaking to the Mail, PR consultant Mr Tewson said that the IOPC's decision to send the case back to the police was a 'victory', having spent much of the last two years fighting to have it taken seriously.

'It has been a long road - some days are fine, some days are not,' he said.

'They cannot take away how I felt as that case progressed. You cannot understand that feeling I had as they failed to investigate the motive. There was no open-mindedness.

'Hertfordshire Constabulary now has an opportunity to do what should have happened from the outset: acknowledge where things went wrong, hold its hands up, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to learning from its mistakes.

'I just want something good to come from this, so it doesn't happen to anyone else.'

He previously told the Mail that he was 'reliving (Mr Gough's) death every single day'.

During the course of the bungled probe, detectives failed to examine Mr Gough's laptop and did not carry out DNA tests on the handwritten note, or rubbish that was found near where the suspects had parked their car before knocking on his door.

It destroyed the note in March 2025, after Mr Gough's inquest deemed his death a suicide. Mr Tewson has been given permission to pursue a judicial review of the inquest itself.

Officers also identified the suspects said to have knocked on Mr Gough's door, after linking the phone number on the note to two other incidents of alleged Grindr blackmail that occurred within days of his death.

But rather than arrest them or even interview them under caution, Hertfordshire officers visited the suspects at home and gave them 'stern words of advice' to warn them off of targeting anyone else.

Police closed the case on the death of Mr Gough (pictured) just a few weeks after his death due to a 'lack of evidence' - despite identifying suspects

Rubbish left in a lay-by close to where the suspected blackmailers had parked before approaching Mr Gough's home (pictured) was not tested for DNA

Mr Tewson (pictured) has urged police to take his allegations that homophobia married the investigation into his partner's death seriously

The lackadaisical approach was, Mr Tewson claims, partly driven by homophobic assumptions about Mr Gough's lifestyle as a gay man.

Early in the investigation, officers made comments about the couple's 25-year age gap and suggested people his age 'kill themselves due to ill health, money issues or paedophilia'.

In March, Mr Tewson also wrote to Grindr urging the app to verify all users in order to reduce the risk that people are honey-trapped by scammers.

The app is popular amongst gay people seeking hookups because they can be anonymous and are not required to verify their identity - which also facilitates scammers making fake profiles.

Grindr told the Mail earlier this year that it was 'deeply saddened' by Mr Gough's death, and said in a letter to Mr Tewson in April that it recognised that it can 'mitigate risks' for users.

It did, however, add: 'Criminal conduct of the nature you describe is ultimately the responsibility of those who perpetrate it.'

In a statement to the Mail, Hertfordshire Constabulary reiterated its 'sincere condolences and sympathy' to Mr Tewson.

'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,' it said.

'This review is currently being undertaken by Bedfordshire Police, and they will take on a 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. It has been confirmed to Mr Tewson today (Wednesday 29 July) that a new PSD investigator will be re-examining his recent complaints. There will also be new supervisory oversight.'

It added that it was 'committed to supporting… the LGBTQ+ community' with dedicated liaison officers, and that it is working to ensure officers understand how to approach issues within the community.

Bedfordshire Police said: 'We are completing an investigative review of the death of a 56-year-old man in Hertfordshire on 29 March 2024, following a report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

'A senior investigating officer has been appointed and initial enquiries are being conducted.'

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support