Fake cop Samuel Narroway handcuffed young driver, put him in his car and drove to victim’s parent’s house, court told
A man pretending to be a police officer pulled over a young man he claimed was driving dangerously, handcuffed him and drove him to the victim’s house a court has heard.
Police & Courts
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A fake police officer handcuffed a young man, placed him in the back of his car and drove him home after claiming to have witnessed him driving dangerously, a court has heard.
Samuel Narroway, 29, was charged with multiple counts of impersonating a police officer as well as deceit and false imprisonment.
Narroway equipped a car with flashing lights and wore a belt similar to those worn by police to deceive four people who he stopped over a 24-hour period in September 2019.
When he was arrested police also found a fake police badge in Narroway’s possession.
He has remained in custody since his arrest.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of impersonation a police officer, one count of aggravated deception and one count of false imprisonment and faced the District Court on Wednesday for sentencing submissions.
The court had previously heard that Narroway pulled over four different cars.
On one occasion he took the female driver to an ATM so she could withdraw $300 to pay for a fictional speeding fine.
In the early hours of September 6, Narroway pulled over a driver he considered to be driving dangerously.
He handcuffed the man, placed him in the back of his car and drove the man back to his parents.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the driver said he now becomes anxious is other cars drive closely behind him.
He also said he was unable to sleep, had recurring nightmares and was concerned for his own safety as well as that of his parents because Narroway knew where they lived.
“I struggle with trusting, not only police but other emergency services and security guards,” he said.
“I feel anxious and scared when approached by police.
“I greatly fear the unknown of his intentions and often feel distressed that I might not have made it home that night.”
Judge Joanne Tracey said it was concerning that Narroway had previous convictions for impersonating police officers and security guards.
Narroway’s lawyer said that the previous charges related to his client pretending to be a police officer when attending an electronics store.
He argued that the easy availability of flashing lights similar to those used by police indicated Narroway had not extensively planned his offending.
“That’s what is so horrifying about all this,” Judge Tracey said.
The court heard that the offending was the product of Narroway’s severe methamphetamine habit.
Narroway will be sentenced in October.