Simon Harris Ocrame sentenced for pretending to be a police officer

A 54-year-old ex-Mount Coolum man who falsely claimed he was a cop to gain special treatment from a Sunshine Coast hotel was busted defying border restrictions three times.

A wannabe police officer, who falsely claimed he was a Constable to gain special treatment at a Sunshine Coast hotel was escorted to government quarantine after defying border restrictions three times.

Simon Harris Ocrame was given a three-month prison sentence on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to failing to comply with Covid-19 public health directions and three counts of assuming designation or description of a police officer.

Police prosecutor Stuart Lydford told the court Ocrame tried to get special treatment from the Sebel, Alexandra Headland by telling staff he was a police officer on May 12.

Sergeant Lydford said Ocrame told receptionists he worked for the Crime and Corruption Commission and later complained about mechanical issues to a maintenance worker.

“He stated I’m a police officer I should be getting better service than this,” he said.

“I've responded to crime in this building and I’ve always looked after you.

“If you call me regarding crime in this building, I may not come and help you.”

Sergeant Lydford said the man also made requests that his police car had to be parked undercover and later complained that it stayed in rain overnight.

Between March 21 and April 2 Ocrame was desperate to convince government workers and police that he was an officer and produced numerous certificates that didn’t prove his status.

Sergeant Lydford said the 53-year-old threatened a government staffer saying he had people in high places that could make things go away.

“It only took 25 minutes after leaving your office, I had your surname, car registration …, your home address, even your movements over the last weekend,” Ocrame said to the staffer.

The court heard Ocrame had also defied Covid-19 border restrictions by entering Queensland from New South Wales, a hotspot, on three occasions in October.

Sergeant Lydford said police caught and fined Ocrame $4135 on two occasions in the same day before he was found at a Queensland address and taken to a Brisbane hotel quarantine site on October 4.

He suggested a combination of fines and a suspended prison sentence as an appropriate punishment for the “extremely worrying” offences.

The former Mount Coolum resident appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court via phone and adopted a casual persona with Magistrate Rod Madsen.

“Yeah mate I plead guilty to all the offences,” he said.

Solicitor Katie Paterson said Ocrame, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar was living in a New South Wales crisis care centre, was remorseful for his actions.

Ms Paterson said the man was grieving the loss of his father at the time and crossed the Queensland border to see his step son.

She suggested fines or a short, suspended prison sentence was in range.

Mr Madsen said Ocrame had shown “complete ignorance” to the law and deserved the court to inflict personal condemnation on behalf of the community.

Ocrame was fined $1000 for each offence of posing as a police officer.

His three-month prison sentence was suspended for one year.

Convictions were recorded.