Corrupt former SA Police officer Hayley May Greenwood jailed for leading double life as drug dealer

THIS corrupt police officer and wannabe rapper told a court she was deeply remorseful about her double life as an ice dealer — but in private her attitude was totally different. And when the judge found out, her sentencing got very interesting.

• Drug-dealing YouTube cop won’t beat corruption rap

CORRUPT former police officer and wannabe rapper Hayley May Greenwood claimed she was sorry for leading a double life as a methylamphetamine dealer.

In a letter to the District Court, she “accepted the wrongfulness” of her actions and “took complete responsibility” for adding to the state’s drug scourge.

On Thursday, however, Judge Julie McIntyre rejected her supposed penitence, saying Greenwood’s comments to a home detention officer showed her true feelings.

“You said your prosecution ‘was silly’ because you ‘didn’t sell drugs to children, only fellow users’,” she said.

“You also said that ‘when I’m off-duty, I’m off-duty’ ... these are extraordinary things for you to say, and do not sit comfortably with your apology.

“You appear to view yourself as a victim, rather than the one offending ... a police officer’s obligation does not stop when they are off-duty.”

But not even that rebuke could pierce Greenwood’s veil of self-interest.

Just seconds after being jailed for 4 ½ years, she unsuccessfully asked to have her sentence deferred for 24 hours — so she could attend a friend’s funeral.

Hayley May Greenwood outside court. Picture: Greg Higgs

Greenwood, 28, of Hackham, was arrested in 2015 by a joint SA Police/ICAC investigation.

She responded to her arrest with a YouTube video called “Sky High” in which she spoke of being “a superhero” and “wearing a disguise” like Batman.

After a long and tortuous court process, Greenwood pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in a controlled drug.

Those offences, which occurred while she was an SA Police officer, occurred at Hackham in May and August, 2015.

Greenwood bought and sold more than 6.6g of methylamphetamine, and dealt in more than $1000 cash.

She has also pleaded guilty to a separate count of failing to act honestly as a public sector employee, between May 8 and May 12, 2015.

She admitted failing to tell her patrol partner that a suspect they were investigating was an associate of her drug-dealing partner.

In sentencing on Thursday, Judge McIntyre said the corruption charge was a prime example of the “cognitive distortion” in Greenwood’s view of herself, policing and crime.

“It’s obvious that you were acting contrary to your oath and obligation as a police officer,” she said.

“You were in a position that required you to uphold the law, not repeatedly disobey it.

“It was part of your job to detect and arrest people doing precisely what you were doing.”

She said the ICAC investigation had taken some time, affording Greenwood opportunities to cease offending — instead, she continued dealing and “only stopped when arrested”.

“Yours was not an all-consuming addiction, you were not impoverished ... your offending was calculated and had an element of (seeking) profit,” she said.

Judge McIntyre imposed a non-parole period of 18 months.

Greenwood will be sentenced on the corruption charge next month.

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