Senior Constable Neil Punchard, who leaked address of a mate’s ex-wife, has jail sentence reinstated

A police officer who leaked the home address of a friend’s ex-wife, after accessing a police database, has had a wholly-suspended prison sentence reinstated.

A police officer who leaked the home address of a friend’s ex-wife, after accessing a police database, has had a wholly-suspended prison sentence reinstated, after an appeal.

Senior Constable Neil Punchard had pleaded guilty to nine counts of using a restricted computer without consent, gaining the benefit of knowledge, in 2013 and 2014.

He successfully appealed against the sentence of two months jail, wholly suspended for 18 months, imposed by a magistrate.

Last year, District Court Judge Craig Chowdhury allowed the appeal, re-sentencing Punchard to 140 hours of community service.

But on Friday the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal by the Commissioner of Police and set aside Judge Chowdhury’s orders.

The appeal court heard that Punchard had already completed the 140 hours of community service.

Queensland Police Senior Constable Neil Punchard in 2019. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

But the appeal court judges said that fact “did not cause such an injustice” to the officer to be an impediment to their orders that would effectively reinstate the magistrate’s sentence.

Punchard used police databases to find the address of his friend’s ex-wife, who was forced to move after the officer revealed the information to his friend.

He had been aware of the significant acrimony between his friend and his ex-partner and advised his friend to tell her he knew where she lived.

The court heard the woman had not given her ex-partner her address because she maintained she was a victim of domestic violence.

Punchard gave wholehearted and enthusiastic assistance to his friend, abandoning any sense that he was a police officer, the appeal court said.

The appeal court found the material before Judge Chowdhury did not reveal any error by the sentencing magistrate or that the sentence was manifestly excessive.

A statement released by the Queensland Police Service said it was “carefully considering” the implications of today’s Court of Appeal decision.

“This includes what, if any, appropriate steps are to be taken from here,” the statement said.

“The officer remains suspended from duty.

“The Commissioner has publicly acknowledged that a failure to discharge prescribed responsibilities in an ethical, professional and lawful manner erodes public trust and confidence in the QPS.

“The QPS has acknowledged that the unlawful or improper use of information can have significant consequences and impacts for those individuals whose privacy have been breached, and has expressed sincere regret.”

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has previously said she would consider Punchard’s suitability to remain employed by QPS after the appeal process was finalised.