Gorokan: Senior Constable Graham David Tinworth charged with firing homemade Sodastream gun
A magistrate has blasted a “discourteous” police officer, charged with malicious damage offences, for failing to appear at court where two more serious allegations were laid. Full details here.
Central Coast
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A police officer’s solicitor told a court his client could not appear to face allegations of maliciously damaging property because he was at a “psychologist’s appointment”.
It comes as the Crown prosecutor laid two further “more serious” charges alleging 56-year-old Senior Constable Graham David Tinworth fired a homemade firearm in a public place.
In January, officers attached to the Professional Standards Command established Strike Force McKendrick to investigate reports of malicious damage related incidents.
Officers arrested Sen Con Tinworth, who is attached to a command in the Northern Region, on January 3 and charged him with two counts of destroying or damaging property.
Charge sheets tendered in court allege the officer damaged another man’s 1987 Toyota Land Cruiser Troop Carrier twice some time between midnight and 8.15am on January 2 at Gorokan.
He was issued a court attendance notice to face Gosford Local Court on Thursday.
However his solicitor Ian Granter told the court Sen Con Tinworth could not attend in person because he was at a “psychologist’s appointment” and sought an adjournment.
Mr Granter said two further “more serious” charges had recently been served on his client and he needed time to seek instructions.
However he said it was likely that “these will progress quickly to sentencing”.
Magistrate Jennifer Price admonished the officer, telling Mr Granter it was part of his client’s bail undertaking to appear at court and make the application for an adjournment in person.
“It’s discourteous to the court,” Ms Price said.
“I will expect that he will attend at the next occasion.”
Charge sheets tendered in relation to those two further offences allege the officer, from Wyongah, twice fired a homemade firearm “to wit, a Sodastream gas cylinder fitted with a tap fixture and galvanised metal pipe” in a public place.
The charges state these two alleged offences happened between 7.50am and 8.30am on January 2 on Wallarah Rd, Gorokan.
The officer was adjourned to February 9 when he is expected to appear and enter pleas.
In a statement the NSW Police said his “employment status is under review”.
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