Michael Lamb: Charges Frankston cop Michael Lamb allegedly leaked to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell thrown out
Charges alleging that suspended Frankston Sen-Sgt and failed pollie Michael Lamb was the mole who leaked police crime incidents to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell have been turfed from court.
South East
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Charges against a cop and failed pollie over the alleged leaking of sensitive police data to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell were sensationally thrown out of court this morning.
Suspended Frankston Senior Sergeant Michael David Lamb was alleged to have been the police mole who gave the high profile radio presenter insider details about 21 crime incidents to further his now defunct political career.
But in a hearing held at Frankston Magistrates’ Court today four charges of illegally disclosing police information were struck out.
In an early birthday present for Sen-Sgt Lamb, who celebrates his 54th birthday later this week, Magistrate Charles Tan found the charges were invalid because they were poorly drafted and didn’t properly describe the exact details of what he had been charged with.
Unknown legal costs, expected to be in the tens of thousands of dollars, have also been awarded against the police force.
The charges related to a series of broadcasts in the lead up to the 2018 state election where Sen-Sgt Lamb was contesting the seat of Frankston as a Liberal.
Court documents exclusively obtained by The Leader earlier this year alleged he was the “police source” backgrounding Mitchell about crimes including aggravated burglaries, robberies and a shooting.
It had been alleged he tried to gain political advantage by releasing sensitive incident fact sheet information to the popular radio journalist regarding 21 crimes in an effort to create a climate of fear.
It was alleged Sen-Sgt Lamb would go into the Frankston or Mornington police stations and use his ID number to access overnight crime details and then contact 3AW to disclose the information.
His candidature for the state seat crumbled after he became involved in a trainwreck interview with Sky News’ political editor David Speers.
He ended up with just 33 per cent of the primary vote — less than the previous Liberal candidate — and Labor was returned with a much higher margin.
Defence counsel Chris Carr had previously told the court that the charge sheets did not have the required amount of detail and therefore should be deemed invalid.
Police prosecutor Brett Sonnet said every incident fact sheet had media disclaimers at the bottom and the charges should remain valid despite their “inelegant drafting”.
The magistrate said he believed the charges were invalid because they “did not disclose an offence known to law”.
“The words (used) simply do not describe the offence,” Mr Tan said.
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Costs were awarded against Victoria Police, with the amount “to be agreed between the parties”.
Outside court Sen-Sgt Lamb, who is suspended with pay, refused to comment.