Police officer James Kalantzis sentenced for damaging car in Westfield Miranda

A NSW Police sergeant has been sentenced for deliberately scratching a person’s car after they parked in a spot designated for electric vehicles at Westfield Miranda.

James Kalantzis, a sergeant in the NSW Police specialist command, has been fined for keying a person's car after the car was parked in an electric vehicle spot at Westfield Miranda. At Sutherland Local Court. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A senior police officer has been fined $1200 for deliberately keying a person’s car after it was incorrectly parked in an electric vehicle spot at Westfield Miranda last year.

James Kalantzis, 33, was charged with intentionally or recklessly damaging property after CCTV captured him damaging the paint work of a man’s Nissan Navara.

Kalantzis, who holds the rank of sergeant and lives in Sylvania, was off-duty at the time.

The court heard the Nissan Navara was parked in an electric vehicle charging station car park about 2pm on May 28 when Kalantzis arrived in his Tesla.

He allegedly got out of his car and scratched both the sides and the front of the Navara before he drove away.

The Narava owner returned to find the damage and notified security guards who checked CCTV footage and identified Kalantzis.

James Kalantzis, a sergeant in a specialist police command got into his Tesla after he left Sutherland Local Court. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

In Sutherland Local Court, Kalantzis made an application for the charge to be dismissed under the Mental Health Act rather than being dealt with under the law.

Magistrate Hugh Donnelly accepted Kalantzis had a mental health condition after being diagnosed in 2017 with adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressive mood.

The Director of Public Prosecutions prosecutor said Kalantzis’ actions were “deliberate” and he “meted out justice of his own”.

The prosecutor noted a report stating Kalantzis said there was a “perceived provocation”, a claim the prosecutor rejected because the car was just parked in the spot and the owner was not in the vicinity, and instead Kalantzis acted angrily.

The prosecutor noted there was not an obvious causal link between Kalantzis’ diagnosis and his actions.

The prosecutor said Kalantzis was dealing with “normal stresses” that most people suffer in their lives, including conflict within his marriage.

The prosecutor also noted Kalantzis chose to stop taking medication for his mental health conditions about three days prior to the incident.

The prosecutor accepted Kalantzis had a “good level” of insight into his actions and did not believe he would reoffend.

James Kalantzis, a sergeant in a specialist police command was sentenced for keying a person's car at Westfield Miranda. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Kalantzis’ defence lawyer said her client was a police officer with no criminal history, and added his mental health diagnoses stemmed from his work and the trauma.

She said Kalantzis was harassed and bullied throughout his career for his mental health issues.

Ms Morgan said Kalantzis could be “impulsive and aggressive” in situations, would not consider the consequences and was “unbalanced” when not on medication.

She said her client was remorseful for his actions and willing to pay compensation for the damaged vehicle.

Mr Donnelly noted the damage was not “at the higher end of the scale” but there was a degree of “lack of impulsivity” before he refused the mental health application.

He said Kalantzis’ actions were “deliberate” and committed out of “annoyance”, and the type of offence was difficult to detect.

He accepted Kalantzis was remorseful, unlikely to reoffend, and that he was a person of good character before he imposed a $1200 fine.

No conviction was recorded.