Tasmania Police suicide inquest hears Sgt Paul Reynolds a predator

A former police inspector who suicided in 2018 after a warrant was a notorious paedophile who was also draining his mother’s account of hundreds of thousands of dollars, an inquest has heard.

Inspector Paul Reynolds in 2009. Picture: File

A respected Tasmania Police senior sergeant who played key roles in the Beaconsfield Mine disaster and Port Arthur massacre was a notorious paedophile who also stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from his mother, a coronial inquest has heard.

The coronial inquest into the deaths by suicide of Const Paul Hunt, Snr Sgt Paul Reynolds, Const Simon Darke and Sgt Robert Cooke, who all died between 2016–20, commenced in Launceston Magistrates Court on Monday.

On Tuesday, the September 13, 2018 death of Snr Sgt Reynolds, a former inspector demoted in 2012 and president of the Northern Tasmanian Football Association who was heavily involved in junior football coaching, was considered.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Cameron Lee, told the inquest that the night before the “popular” and respected officer’s death, a search warrant was executed on the Westbury home he shared with his wife of 31 years. It is not suggested she was involved in any wrongdoing or had knowledge of her husband’s activities.

Inspector Paul Reynolds speaking at the Beaconsfield Mine disaster in 2006. Picture: File

Professional Standards had received “shocking and despicable” allegations Snr Sgt Reynolds was a notorious paedophile who had been preying on boys online.

The allegations related to Snr Sgt Reynolds allegedly soliciting and sending inappropriate images and videos from and to male children.

Mr Lee told the inquest Snr Sgt Reynolds denied the allegations and during the warrant’s execution said, “What a way to end a 40-year career.”

All his devices were seized. There was discussions about giving him an alternative phone but this could not be facilitated due to the lateness of the evening.

Snr Sgt Reynolds’ wife said he looked “gutted” the next day.

Mr Lee told the inquest that in the early afternoon of September 13, Snr Sgt Reynolds drove to the house of a family friend he formerly coached in football. He was the last person to see the officer alive.

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Snr Sgt Reynolds was discovered deceased in a vehicle at Parkham, near Elizabeth Town, later that evening.

Telephone records and interviews with the three minors subsequently substantiated the allegations of paedophilia against Snr Sgt Reynolds, Mr Lee said.

All three children said they received images of Snr Sgt Reynolds’ penis and multiple images of him sitting on the toilet.

Snr Sgt Reynolds told one of the children he had an “anaconda penis,” the inquest was told.

Some of the children sent revealing images in return.

Snr Sgt Paul Reynolds in 2015. Picture: File

Telephone evidence revealed a number of current and historical homosexual relationships Snr Sgt Reynolds was involved in. He was also allegedly the victim of a northern Tasmanian private school teacher who is said to have abused several boys.

In the weeks leading up to his death, he had prepared a draft statement for the investigation into the teacher, which was initiated by another alleged victim.

Mr Lee told the inquest that, separate to Snr Sgt Reynolds’ preying on young children, there was evidence he had drained his infirm mother’s bank accounts, including approximately $180,000 from the sale of her home.

This was spent on shopping trips, helicopter flights and expensive dinners, Mr Lee said.

However, Mr Lee said it appeared his mother’s money was not enough. In the two months prior to his death, Snr Sgt Reynolds had been messaging a person, ‘Mr X’, who “appeared to be an ice addict,” asking for $50,000 cash as soon as possible, Mr Lee said.

In addition to this, Snr Sgt Reynolds had also lived with depression since 2008, with a formal diagnosis in 2012.

Tasmania Police’s former welfare co-ordinator, Sgt Fiona Smith, gave evidence for much of Tuesday.

The inquest continues.