Brett Pitkin: Blacktown cop admits to misconduct as ‘favour’ for accused bikie associate
A long-serving police sergeant has been charged after searching restricted police records as a ‘favour’ for an alleged bikie associate.
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A former western Sydney police officer has admitted to illegally searching restricted information on the force’s computer system as a family “favour”.
Brett Anthony Pitkin, 44, of Cambridge Gardens, faced Penrith Local Court today, charged with two counts of accessing restricted data on the NSW Police Force’s system in June 2018.
According to police documents, Pitkin was a sergeant and had been in with NSW Police for more than 20 years when the offences took place.
In early June 2018, police were granted warrants to access the mobile phones of Pitkin and his uncle by marriage, Gregory Bond.
Two weeks later, Mr Bond was pulled over by police and his car searched for allegedly “associating with a known bikie”.
After the police search, Mr Bond contacted his wife and suggested he “get Brett to have a look” into his police files.
On June 23, when Pitkin was working as a supervisor at Blacktown Police Station, he did a vehicle search for Mr Bond’s car on the police system and accessed intelligence records under his name.
Pitkin falsely recorded the reason for the search as being an inquiry into a car driving “erratically on the M4”.
Later that day, Pitkin contacted his wife and told her “I checked that thingo for Greg” and advised the police had information on Mr Bond and his “bikie mate”.
During the conversation, Mr Pitkin’s wife allegedly became upset with him for accessing the files and the risk of him losing his job.
“You’re on $125,000 but lose your job and we’re f***ed,” she said.
“It’s too risky, you shouldn’t have done it.
“Don’t f***ing do favours when your job could be at jeopardy.”
Pitkin reportedly replied: “Well I’m not going to tell him anyway.”
On June 25, Pitkin’s wife contacted him while working at the reception of a local club and asked if he could do a search on a man leaving “dirty messages” on the club’s phone.
That night, Pitkin searched the phone number given to him by his wife and obtained personal details connected to the number.
He reportedly then told his wife the details and advised her to contact police.
Pitkin was due to be sentenced in Penrith Local Court today; however, a delay in a Community Service Order report held over the proceeding.
He is expected to be sentenced on March 31.
Pitkin has resigned from NSW Police.