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A former police officer will spend up to 10 years behind bars for stealing $100,000 in cash from a convicted sex offender during a New South Wales home invasion. The 37-year-old former senior constable, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offence over the 2024 incident. In October last year the defendant travelled more than 700 kilometres from the NSW South Coast to Lightning Ridge, in the state's west. The Coonamble District Court heard he tied up a then-78-year-old man, injuring the victim's hands and legs, before stealing $100,000 in cash. He learnt about the large sum of money while investigating the man as a suspect in a different matter. The offender, who was referred to by the pseudonym MA, was sentenced to 10 years' jail with a non-parole period of six years. MA put his head in his hands as Judge Robert Newlinds read out the sentence. Judge Newlinds told the court he considered MA's exploitation of knowledge he gained as a police officer a serious offence. "The message is, the misuse of this information is wholly unacceptable," he said. Judge Newlinds said MA was likely to "suffer greatly in custody". The judge read a statement from MA's parents speaking of their deep remorse for their son's crime. "The pain and fear he would have caused the victim has been weighing heavily on him," his mother said in her statement. Judge Newlinds acknowledged MA's PTSD diagnosis, but said it not did not fully explain why he committed the crime. The court was told MA's PTSD first manifested four years ago as the result of events he witnessed in the line of duty, including murders, suicides and the death of a baby. MA said he resorted to gambling and regularly consuming 20 to 25 standard drinks daily. While the judge acknowledged the state of MA's mental health, he described the connection between the PTSD diagnosis and the crime as '"tenuous". The judge ordered MA to return the $81,000, which has been recovered, to the victim. MA will have to repay to remaining $19,000 through the sale of property. The court heard another man is before the courts over the incident. If he is found guilty, MA can then claim a part of the money back, the court heard. The co-accused has yet to enter a plea in the matter.
