Former AFL coach Dani Laidley launches legal action over leaked custody photos

Ex-AFL coach Dani Laidley is suing the Victorian government after photos of her in custody were leaked to the media.

A court sketch of former AFL player and coach Dani Laidley during a bail hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court. Picture: AAP

Former AFL coach Dani Laidley is suing the Victorian government after photos of her in custody were leaked to the media and has alleged senior officers used derogatory language about her gender identity in a WhatsApp group.

Ms Laidley, who is a transgender woman, has alleged police officers shared the images to humiliate, disparage and ridicule her.

In a claim filed with the Supreme Court of Victoria, the former North Melbourne coach said she suffered public ridicule and contempt while in the care of the Victorian government and is seeking damages.

She has alleged that Detective Senior Constable Murray Gentner shared images of her in custody in a WhatsApp group called the “SD1 Gentleman’s Club”, which comprised of nine officers.

“Gentner furthermore communicated and published to other police officers including Adam Henry and Matthew Thorpe words of and concerning the plaintiff [Laidley] including that she was a ‘full blown tranny’ and ‘dressing like a tranny’,” said the claim.

Photos of Ms Laidley, formerly known as Dean, were taken of her wearing a wig and a dress in custody after she was arrested on stalking charges in St Kilda in May 2020.

Ms Laidley has further alleged Senior Constable Shane Reid took a photo of her in a police interview room before publishing the image in the “SD1 Gentleman’s Club” WhatsApp group.

Ms Laidley alleges the images were then shared between other police officers before being disseminated on social media.

“The nature of the first and second photographs and the words communicated by police officers of and concerning the plaintiff were such as to invite and expose the plaintiff to humiliation and ridicule,” said the claim.

“The first and second photographs and the words communicated by police officers of and concerning the plaintiff in this context meant and were understood to mean that the plaintiff, by reason of dressing as and/or identifying as a woman, was deserving of disparagement and ridicule and that she was a ridiculous spectacle.”

The claim said once the images were shared on social media it was inevitable they would be published by print, radio and television media, exposing Ms Laidley to public ridicule and contempt.

She said Victoria Police failed in its duty of care to ensure her physical and psychological safety.

An internal Victoria Police investigation into the leaked photos saw hundreds of Victoria Police officers interviewed.

Six were ordered to each pay Ms Laidley $3,000 and attend a respect court run by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

The Australian approached Victoria Police for comment.