Jordan Gill, 29, faces jail sentence over threats against Canberra cop and wearing fake police uniform
A former part-time male model is facing a potential stint behind bars for strutting around Canberra in a police uniform he bought on eBay.
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A gun-loving former part-time male model is facing a potential stint behind bars for strutting around Canberra in a federal police uniform he purchased on eBay and threatening a real cop.
Jordan David Hans Gill, 29, also known as Jordan Fristad, fronted the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday where Magistrate James Stewart said he would likely sentence him to jail when the case returns to court later in January.
Gill had earlier pleaded guilty to impersonating a police officer, using a carriage service to harass and intimidating a Commonwealth official.
The court heard Gill sent 11 threatening emails to a police officer, causing the officer “significant distress”.
The officer knew Gill was a licensed gun owner and that “there was a means and possibility of carrying them out”.
Gill spent 47 days locked up on remand last year, and is being treated by a psychiatrist.
Defence lawyer Todd Trotter said Gill dressed up in an Australian Federal Police uniform he purchased on eBay, but did not “misuse” it by performing any police duties.
“At the very worst it can be seen as an ego boost to social media,” Mr Trotter said.
The photos appear to have been deleted from Gill’s social media accounts, which are otherwise dominated by inspirational quotes, shirtless selfies and photos of guns.
Mr Trotter said his client had been the target of threats and thought they would stop if people thought he was a police officer.
“He was dressing as an AFP officer and putting those images on social media as a very poor form of protection,” Mr Trotter said.
“He probably should have just gone to the AFP.
“It was a call for help, it was an incredibly, incredibly poor call for help.”
He said the threats made towards the genuine officer — which mentioned the officer’s family — justified a jail sentence but argued it could be suspended after time served.
Commonwealth prosecutor David Bloomfield said police officers, like judges, were vulnerable to threats and harassment from members of the public and deserved the protection of the law.
Mr Stewart said if Gill had only been caught impersonating a police officer he would not have sentenced him to jail, but that the threats meant a prison sentence was justified.
Gill returns to court on January 31.