Cop shared Laidley pics but did not take them, court documents allege

A Victoria Police officer charged over leaking a photograph of former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley shared the photo but did not take it, court documents show.

Former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley.

A Victorian policeman charged over the photo leak scandal involving former AFL coach Dani Laidley had not taken the pictures, but instead reshared them with others, court documents reveal.

Constable David Hall was due to front Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with two counts of unauthorised disclosure of police information at Glen Waverley on May 3 last year. But the northwest metro region officer did not have to appear due to the coronavirus, with his case ­adjourned to June.

Charge sheets allege Constable Hall “did without reasonable excuse disclose police information” by forwarding those details in three text messages to two people.

The texts allegedly contained information that Laidley — formerly known as Dean — had been remanded in custody on threats to kill and that he was found in possession of a drug of dependence.

“Information as to the current gender that Dean Laidley was identifying as” was also mentioned in the texts, court documents allege.

An internal police probe was sparked after photos of Laidley in custody at St Kilda Police Station — one in make-up and a blonde wig — were leaked and widely transmitted.

Laidley had been arrested outside a woman’s home she had been persistently stalking in St Kilda on May 2.

A court later heard Laidley now identified as a woman. She was placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond.