Former Northern Rivers police officer Troy Robert William Cridland denies faking evidence in teen sex crime trial

A former police officer on trial in northern NSW claims he considered taking his own life when he discovered the teen he was cheating on his partner with was underage.

Former police officer Troy Cridland stands trial at Lismore District Court charged with multiple child sexual offences.

A ex-Northern Rivers cop accused of knowingly having sex with an underage teen girl has denied creating a fake Tinder account to cover his alleged offending.

Troy Robert William Cridland claims he turned a gun on himself and almost took his own life after he discovered the girl he was cheating on his wife with was only aged 15.

The 31-year-old is accused of sexual relations with the teen in his police car and at a station.

He was working as a police officer in a Northern Rivers town near Lismore at the time.

Mr Cridland has pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges against him.

He provided his side of the story in Lismore District Court on Wednesday, appearing in tears at times, and said he met the girl on the dating app Tinder.

Troy Robert William Cridland is on trial for multiple child sexual offences.

The jury was shown screenshots of what Mr Cridland claimed was the first time the pair spoke on the app on February 10, 2020, leading to sexual liaisons between March and August.

Mr Cridland told the court the girl told him on Tinder and the app Snapchat she was between 16-17.

Mr Cridland claims he queried: “But your profile said you are 18”.

He told the court the girl replied: “I can’t make one until I’m 18 – I lied … I’m about to turn 17.”

Mr Cridland said the teen told him: “I just want some fun” and to “hook up” – meaning sexual encounters.

Former cop Troy Cridland as a senior constable. Photo: Marc Stapelberg.

Mr Cridland told the court he and the teen had a sexual encounter for the first time in a tent inside a police station garage on Mother’s Day in May 2020.

He said they last met for a sexual encounter on August 30 of that year

Mr Cridland denied having intercourse with the girl in the police car or on duty and said she touched his genitals outside the car.

Troy Cridland on the job as a police officer.

Mr Cridland alleged after the encounter on August 30, the teen said: “You should dump you (your partner) for me”.’

He told the court the girl threatened: “If you don’t I’ll ruin your fucking life … I’m only 15.”

Mr Cridland claimed it was the first time he became aware the girl was underage and not able to consent.

He said when he was driving home he pulled over his car, took his gun out of his holster and turned it on himself, considering taking his own life.

But Mr Cridland told the court he was stopped by a message from his partner, who he had been “cheating” on, stating “goodnight, I love you”.

The prosecution has argued screenshots of the alleged Tinder conversation could have been faked and there was no real evidence the conversation took place.

Mr Cridland said he considered suicide when he found out the girl he was sleeping with was under 16.

Mr Cridland denied faking accounts or conversations, or misleading investigators. He also denied sending or receiving explicit imagery over Snapchat.

However, the crown told the court Mr Cridland claimed to have lost the phone he used to take the screenshots and a USB he stored files on.

Mr Cridland told the court he gave the phone “to a mate” who he was no longer in contact with, and misplaced the USB “years ago”.

He is charged with seven counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child between 14-16.

He has also been charged with one count each of an aggravated sexual act with a child between 10-16, sexual act with a child between 10-16 years old, using a child over 14 to make child sexual abuse material and perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.