Benjamin David: Youth command police officer drove while disqualified

An experienced cop has been sentenced for driving while disqualified with a court hearing the officer had been warned not to get behind the wheel by his superior.

Benjamin David pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified at Bardwell Valley in May. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

An experienced cop has been sentenced for driving while disqualified with a court hearing the officer had been warned not to get behind the wheel by his superior.

Benjamin David, 41, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified.

Agreed facts tendered in court said a St George highway patrol officer stopped a Kia Sportage on South John St, Bardwell Valley, about 8.30am on May 16.

An officer conducted checks which revealed David, who is a senior constable attached to a specialist youth command, had been suspended from January 12 to June 11, this year.

That was due to David receiving eight mobile phone offences and the exceeding demerit-point threshold.

Benjamin David during his first court appearance. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

David’s defence lawyer, Christos Theodoropoulos, said his client, who lives in Turrella, had a “brain explosion” and “made a terrible judgment” to drive.

Mr Theodoropoulos said David accepted he was a person, by virtue of his job, who upheld the law, understood the law and he knew he could not drive.

David rushed out of court after being sentenced. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

He said David had been a police officer for 15 years and he had previously served in the public order and riot squad.

Mr Theodoropoulos noted David had suffered from mental health issues as a result of his employment for which he was seeking psychological treatment, but was now working with PCYC as a “role model”.

The lawyer said David had “let himself down” and would spend time trying to rebuild his reputation.

Mr Theodoropoulos said David was unaware he had committed so many mobile phone infringements because he did not receive letters in the mail after he had moved homes, adding he had paid the fines.

The court heard David was aware of the suspension on February 25 when his supervisor informed him and arranged to have him driven home.

Mr Theodoropoulos noted David had spent eight months off the road and he needed a licence to drive his children to school and to attend their medical appointments.

Magistrate Philip Stewart noted David had a poor traffic history with 11 mobile phone offences dating back to 2003.

He noted David was not driving out of necessity, but accepted he had no prior record, was a person of good character and had mental health issues.

However, the magistrate emphasised David knew he was not allowed to drive.

David was convicted and disqualified from driving for three months with no additional penalty.