A former ACT police officer has been fined for recording a private sex video from the mobile phone of a woman who went to Tuggeranong police station for help last year.
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Sam Alexander Preston-Stanley, 28, pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to a charge of recording prescribed information, a crime under secrecy provisions of the Australian Federal Police Act.
The court heard Preston-Stanley had served the woman when she came to the Tuggeranong police station in April last year to seek help over harassing text messages she had received.
The probationary constable discovered a video of the victim engaging in oral sex while browsing the contents of her phone as part of the investigation.
He used his own phone to record a copy of the footage while the woman waited.
Four days later, Preston-Stanley commented to another constable on the woman's sexual prowess and showed his colleague the explicit video.
The pair later visited the victim’s home and the colleague recognised her from clip.
The colleague reported the matter to his superiors, sparking an internal investigation.
Preston-Stanley's house was raided and he made full admissions when questioned.
He was suspended on full pay and later resigned.
Commonwealth prosecutor, Natasha Case, on Tuesday described the offence as a “severe breach” of the woman’s privacy, which took away her dignity and exposed her to ridicule.
Ms Case said the public needed to be able to trust the police with private information when making criminal complaints.
The prosecution said the victim was now reluctant to engage with police as she had underlying anxiety that other offices had viewed the footage.
Defence lawyer Jason Parkinson said his client's guilty plea, full admissions when questioned by investigators, and resignation all displayed remorse and contrition.
Mr Parkinson said the offender had lost his career as a result of the “terrible breach of trust” he committed.
Magistrate Beth Campbell, in sentencing, said the AFP had acted swiftly to denounce the behaviour.
But she said the sentence needed to send a message of the punishment that awaited those that abused information they came across in their official capacity.
Ms Campbell fined Preston-Stanley $1500 and ordered he enter a 12-month Commonwealth good behaviour order.
The magistrate gave the offender six months to pay.
Ms Campbell said Preston-Stanley’s “thoughtless and immature behaviour” had made “a bit of a pickle” of his life.
“I feel the lesson has well and truly been learnt,” she said.