Former police officer Kristi Phillipson’s drug possession, breaching AVO charges dismissed

A former cop who spent an ‘oppressive’ 24 hours in custody sobbed uncontrollably in court before her charges were dismissed. Find out why.

Kristi Phillipson was emotional in court.

As a police officer, Senior Constable Kristi Lee Phillipson helped domestic violence victims, but the Toongabbie woman was on the other side of the law when she was charged with multiple offences in 2021 and 2022.

Charges of stalking and intimidation intending physical fear and using postal/similar service to menace/harass/be offensive were dismissed in February.

At Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday, Phillipson was due to be sentenced on two counts of contravening an apprehended domestic violence order at Toongabbie in May and July last year. She also admitted to possessing 0.4g of cannabis.

However, those charges were dismissed on mental health grounds, on the condition Phillipson continues therapy for her “very persistent” borderline personality disorder and depression.

The court heard how the 46-year-old was suffering depression at the time of her offences when a friend offered her cannabis to treat her low mood.

Kristi Phillipson leaves Parramatta Local Court with her lawyer Sylvie Houston in September.

Her lawyer, Sylvie Houston, told the court her client was never intoxicated with the drug and stopped drinking heavily since she was charged.

“In my submission she has made great strides … but there’s still some work to do and she realises that,’’ Ms Houston said.

“She’s had more therapy since she’s been arrested.”

The court heard how Phillipson breached AVOs when she posted three letters, including a birthday letter, to a woman but the words were not hostile.

She then spent 24 hours in custody at Amber Laurel Correctional Centre in Emu Plains, which Magistrate Cate Follent said would have been oppressive for a former cop.

Ms Houston said: “It was quite disturbing.’’

Phillipson then quit the police force.

DPP prosecutor William Logan told the court Phillipson’s background as a domestic violence liaison officer meant she would know how to avoid AVO detection.

He pointed out how she sent the letters to the victim in the post without her name instead of leaving a digital footprint on email.

Mr Logan said a submission to remove alcohol restrictions showed she was still drinking.

Phillipson sobbed and shook uncontrollably through much of her court appearance and outside the courtroom after the charges were dropped.

Ms Follent told the court Phillipson’s mental health problems were well entrenched and arose from childhood trauma.

She found Phillipson’s offences over two years as low range and noted how she had not had any criminal convictions.

“She is taking genuine steps to address all of her mental health issues,’’ Ms Follent said.