Police officer sentenced in Maroochydore court for domestic violence

A disgraced former police officer held his head in his hands as his “fall from grace” which cost him his job and led to time in custody was read out in court.

A disgraced former police officer held his head in his hands as his “fall from grace” which cost him his job and led to time in custody for was read out in court. Generic image.

A disgraced former Queensland police officer’s “fall from grace” has been exposed in a Sunshine Coast court, after he was sentenced for his second domestic violence offence in less than three months.

The 55-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on December 20 via videolink, where he pleaded guilty to one charge of breaching a domestic violence order.

The court was told the man had contravened the order when he sent his adult son a text message appearing to threaten his ex-partner on October 26, 2022.

Police prosecutor David Bradley said the man was drunk at the time.

“(He texted) your mum has sold our house, taken my job, my income … and put me in jail. Not a fan. Karma will come,” Sergeant Bradley said.

The man officially lost his job on the Queensland Police Service in 2022 after the allegations of domestic violence surfaced. Generic image.

The victim was visibly frightened by these messages and fled to a “safe location”, he said, though the man later texted again saying “just joking”.

The offences came only 15 days after he was sentenced for an earlier breach of a domestic violence order, the court was told.

The man later lost his job as a Queensland police officer.

Defence barrister David Jones then told the court of his client’s “fall from grace”, which included becoming an alcoholic due to unresolved trauma and other mental health issues.

The man held his head in his hands as Mr Jones spoke.

He said the 55-year-old was diagnosed in 2022 with a major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse and had underlying PTSD, Mr Jones said, adding his client was always drunk during the offending.

Maroochydore Courthouse. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Prior to being brought before the courts in October for the first domestic violence offence, Mr Jones said his client had a spotless history.

The man had even forked out $32,000 for an intense rehab program, Mr Jones said.

Judge Graham Hillan said the man had taken “giant steps towards rehab”.

He was sentenced to six months behind bars concurrent to an earlier 12-month suspended sentence, with 54 days in presentence custody declared as time served, but was released on parole immediately.

A conviction was recorded.