Victoria Police’s Simon John Blackney accused of multiple sexual assaults: Melbourne Magistrates’ Court

A Melbourne officer charged with multiple sexual assaults wants the police association to pay for his defence.

The senior constable, who was upgraded to sergeant at the time, was off-duty during the alleged incident last September. Picture: Generic

A police officer charged with multiple sexual assaults following an internal investigation will seek funding from the police association for his defence.

Simon John Blackney, 51, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for the first time on Thursday via videolink after being charged by the professional standards command last month.

Court documents obtained exclusively by the Herald Sun allege the senior constable, who was upgraded to a sergeant at the time of the alleged offending, sexually touched a woman between the legs and on her backside without her consent in Falls Creek last year.

The Ringwood North man is also accused of “thrusting his groin area with an erect penis” into the groin area of a woman.

Senior constable Blackney was upgraded to sergeant at the time of the alleged offending. Picture: Generic

In a previous statement, Victoria Police said the charges related to five counts of alleged sexual assault against two women while he was off duty.

In court, defence solicitor Beth Marsh told Magistrate Cecily Hollingworth her client needed a lengthy adjournment in order to seek funding from The Victorian Police Association Victoria (TPAV).

Ms Marsh said Mr Blackney is expected to appear at a TPAV hearing on July 18 and would know the outcome within a week.

Nicole Fedyszyn, from the Office of Public Prosecutions, said defence had contacted her regarding the funding application and the adjournment was not opposed.

According to its website, TPAV existed to “Protect, Support, and Advance the interest of Members” and has supported police and protective services officers for over 100 years.

The matter was adjourned to August 1.