Former police officer Antonius Laurier, 71, jailed for child exploitation material

A retired Queensland police officer with a 40-year career has landed behind bars after being caught with more than 1,500 child exploitation images.

Antonius Laurentius Laurier, 71, leaving Beenleigh District Court

A retired Queensland police officer with a 40-year career has landed behind bars after being caught with more than 1500 child exploitation images.

Antonius Laurentius Laurier was initially scheduled for sentence in Beenleigh District Court on February 23 but the matter went part-heard for a contested facts sentence on April 23.

The matter was adjourned so the Department of Public Prosecutions could investigate any potential exceptional circumstances which would see Laurier not facing actual jail time.

The court heard the 71-year-old Park Ridge man was found with hard drives containing 1774 images, 17 videos and written material of the illegal content.

The child exploitation material was allegedly found on hard drives across three homes, including his ex-wife’s residence, between May 31 and August 12, 2019.

There were videos titled Love of Lolita which he watched the morning of the police search.

Laurier also used a downloading program to illegally download material and then transferred it to an external hard drive.

The court heard Mr Laurier worked as a cop in Mt Morgan and was a Senior Sergeant in the State Traffic Support Branch.

He received a police medal and a federal honour for his overall contribution to QPS in 2012.

Defence barrister Rick Taylor said Laurier was of otherwise good character but there were no exceptional circumstances.

“The diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder made some reason for his behaviour but wasn’t the sole cause,” he said.

“There are no exceptional circumstances but his former profession as a police officer may cause him trouble in prison.”

Laurier initially told police he was looking at the material as part of secret police investigation.

Crown Prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke said there was no evidence this explanation was the truth.

“Police conducted investigations there was no evidence of this operation,” she said.

“The inconsistencies show a lack of remorse and insight into his offending.”

Judge Craig Chowdhury sentenced Laurier to 18 months prison, to be suspended after serving five months.

He will then be placed on an 18-month probation order once released from prison.

“This court sees far too frequently, middle aged men with too much time on their hands accessing this material,” said Judge Chowdhury.

“You’ve served your community by being a police officer but also disgraced yourself by accessing this material.”

Originally published as Former police officer Antonius Laurier, 71, jailed for child exploitation material