Queensland cop Neil Punchard handed two months suspended jail sentence for leaking woman’s address

A senior constable has been handed a suspended jail sentence after leaking the address of a domestic violence survivor to her ex-partner.

A Queensland police officer has avoided jail after leaking a woman’s address to her allegedly violent ex-partner.

Senior Constable Neil Glen Punchard was sentenced in Brisbane Magistrates Court today after pleading guilty to nine counts of using a restricted computer.

He received a wholly suspended two-month jail sentence, with a conviction recorded.

Punchard disclosed personal information about the woman and her partner to her former partner, a long-time friend of Punchard’s, over a one-year period from 2013.

Crown prosecutor Angus Edwards said it was a “complete breach of trust” by Punchard, who had done the “exact opposite” of the role of a police officer — to protect.

Police officer Neil Punchard will be sentenced today.

“(He) put at risk somebody who was involved in an acrimonious separation,” Mr Edwards said.

Punchard “inflamed” the situation by providing his friend with advice about what to say to the victim, the court heard.

“Just tell her you know where she lives and leave it at that. Lol she will flip,” Punchard said in his correspondence with the ex-partner. He also said “f*** this b***h … is she f****** delirious? F*** her. No more negotiations”.

Punchard drafted for him an email which was intended to “send to the b***h that will hopefully make her s*** herself”.

He also advised, “you’ve been quiet for too long. I know you’re screaming on the inside. Let loose on her.”

“It’s in that context that he provides the address where (the ex-partner) might find (the victim),” Mr Edwards said.

Punchard was charged in late 2018 after a series of “erroneous” decisions by police not to prosecute, Mr Edwards told the court.

The senior constable was friends with the man.

Two police investigations cleared him before the Crime and Corruption Commission overturned those decisions.

Punchard’s defence barrister rejected a claim by the victim her ex-partner had turned up at her place 12 times after being provided with the address.

“This vile misuse and abuse of power has meant that I feel endlessly threatened and vulnerable,” the victim said in a statement to the court.

“I cannot comprehend how a person in such a trusted job could do such a horrible thing and think it would be without consequence.”

Punchard outside court in January. Picture: AAP

She said she has had to move home twice because of Punchard’s actions.

The ex-partner is believed to be overseas, with warrants out of his arrest in relation to breaches of domestic violence orders, the court heard.

There are domestic violence orders in place that he have not contact with her or their children.

Last month, Punchard failed in a bid to have the charges thrown out on a technicality.

He argued the criminal investigation against him was tainted by the use of an interview he was forced to give during internal disciplinary proceedings, in which he made admissions.

Originally published as Queensland cop Neil Punchard handed two months suspended jail sentence for leaking woman’s address