Ivan Petch: Ex Ryde Council mayor appeals blackmail conviction

He once wielded power over a prominent part of Sydney, but since he faced numerous criminal convictions former Ryde Mayor Ivan Petch has left public office in disgrace. Now he wants to clear his name.

Former Ryde mayor Ivan Petch is appealing his conviction in the Supreme Court Picture: AAP/Petter Rae

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The corrupt former Mayor of Ryde is back in court – this time in an attempt to clear his name after he was convicted of blackmailing a council worker.

Elderly Ivan Petch, whose misconduct in public office was brought to light by ICAC, maintains there was not enough evidence to find him guilty of attempting to blackmail a Ryde City Council executive in 2013.

Petch was convicted after his trial heard he told the acting general manager Danielle Dickson she would have the permanent position if she could resolve court action between the council and councillors in a favourable way.

Ms Dickson and Petch in happier times. Picture: Supplied

Petch had the deciding vote over who would be endorsed for the role.

The former mayor has now appealed to the Supreme Court to see the conviction quashed or a retrial ordered.

At the 2018 trial Ms Dickson recalled the conversation she had with Petch in the Mayor’s chambers where he became “red faced”.

The incident took place the night before the courts were to decide whether Petch and his fellow councillors would be forced to pay their own hefty legal bills in a case against the council.

“(He said) it would be very important to settle the issue in a way that was favourable (to the councillors) and that I would need his help to be the general manager of the council,” she said at the time.

Former state MP and Ryde mayor Ivan Petch had lashed out at a reporter covering his case last year. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett

“It was clear to me at the time that Ivan was saying that if I resolved the cost issue … that he would be able to manoeuvre myself into the general manager’s position.”

The next day she phone ICAC and reported the incident.

The corruption probe into Petch’s conduct as Mayor led to a number of criminal charges being laid, including charges relating to him blackmailing Ms Dickson’s predecessor as general manager when pornography was found on his computer.

Petch, now 81, has also been found guilty of lying to the ICAC investigation that revealed his actions.

Ms Dickson, pictured, has since moved on to be appointed the youngest ever Land and Environment Court commissioner. Picture: Troy Snook

While facing those charges Petch lashed out at a Northern District Times reporter outside of court, grabbing his phone and stomping on his bag.

Petch’s legal team is appealing on the basis that trial Judge Nicole Noman failed in directing the jury and that she allowed Ms Dickson to explain her opinion of his state of mind during the fateful meeting in his chambers.

They maintain the jury's verdict is unreasonable and cannot be supported based on the evidence, according to documents tendered to court.

Key to their arguments is that the verdict was a “substantial miscarriage of justice” and that Petch did not “menace” Ms Dickson in his actions.

Petch is still serving out the intensive corrections order he was given, which is due to expire this year.

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