Leaked Dean Laidley photos may have been sent to more than one hundred officers
As the sheer number of officers who were sent leaked photos of Dean Laidley becomes a major headache for force command, the former AFL coach is set to make a bid for bail.
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Former AFL coach Dean Laidley, facing drug possession charges, is set to make a bid to be freed from jail.
The Herald Sun can reveal Laidley, 53, only recently had been released on bail for charges including three counts of drug possession when he was arrested dressed in women’s clothing in St Kilda about 9pm on Saturday.
Those charges will be heard alongside the latest, including stalking and committing an indictable offence on bail, when Laidley returns to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
His legal team has notified the court Laidley intends to also apply for bail on that day.
His mental health is expected to be a key reason for requesting release back into the community, where he will be able to access treatment.
It comes as the Herald Sun revealed the number of police sent leaked photos of the former AFL coach could stretch into triple figures.
The sheer number of officers who were sent the images is a headache for force command as they try to work out how many should be reprimanded.
The Herald Sun understands more than one hundred officers were sent the photos of the former North Melbourne coach following his arrest in St Kilda on Saturday night.
The images — which went viral on Twitter — showed the 53-year-old wearing a blonde wig and makeup while in custody being interviewed over stalking and other offences.
Some police officers were leaked the images from colleagues and others received the photos from outside the force, including via Twitter and online AFL forum BigFooty.
It is believed the numbers were significantly inflated because the photos were forwarded in large group chats via Whatsapp.
On Monday police across the force were ordered to delete the images and notify Victoria Police if they had received them.
How they received the photos is irrelevant and all will be required to explain why they have them.
Detectives from Professional Standards Command have already suspended Senior Constable Shane Reid and another Senior Constable over the scandal.
Others could face similar action if they were found to have illegally distributed the photos.
There are internal fears the photos have left the force exposed to extremely costly legal action.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton on Monday described it as one of the most significant privacy breaches he had encountered on his time in the force.
The images, which include Mr Laidley’s mugshot, were shared while he was in the care of police and leaves the force wide open significant civil action.
The two suspended officers, from southern metro region, are expected to be charged with unauthorised disclosure of information and could spend two years in jail.
They face internal disciplinary action and could be sacked from the force.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson declined to say how many officers were under investigation over the leak.
“As this is an active investigation, Victoria Police will not be facilitating any further interviews or providing a running commentary on the matter,” she said.
Mr Laidley was remanded to reappear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 11.
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