Quoting from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-03/sergeant-fined-for-accessing-police-details-of-netball-star/8492910
Queensland sergeant fined for accessing police details of netball captain Laura Geitz
Updated 3 May 2017, 12:59pm
A Queensland police sergeant has been fined for hacking into a work computer to snoop on the personal details of friends and Australian netball captain Laura Geitz.
Key points:
- Steven Patrick Wright charged after accessing QPRIME system on 80 occasions last year
- The court heard officer began to struggle with his mental health while stationed in Surfers Paradise
- Magistrate Gary Finger fined the officer $4,000, no conviction recorded
Steven Patrick Wright was charged after he accessed the QPRIME system on 80 occasions between April and August last year.
The 40-year-old today pleaded guilty to one charge of computer hacking at the Southport Magistrates Court.
Police prosecutor Eric Engwirda told the court the Broadbeach-based officer searched the personal information of a wide range of people, including Laura Geitz.
"There was no proper basis to access that information," Senior Sergeant Engwirda said.
Defence solicitor Calvin Gnech told the court his client joined the police in 2004 and quickly progressed through the ranks.
The married officer, who is a father of three children, was promoted to sergeant in six years, which is highly unusual.
"He had a blossoming career," Mr Gnech said.
Sergeant suffers from PTSD, panic disorder: report
The court heard Wright began to struggle with his mental health while stationed in Surfers Paradise.
Mr Gnech said his client was called to a number of traumatic events including a suicide where a man jumped from the seventh floor of a building.
The court heard Wright was the first officer on scene and spoke with the badly injured man before he died.
The officer was stood down on November 19, 2016 and his mental health has not improved.
"He is a broken man, still with suicidal tendencies," Mr Gnech said.
"He is deeply remorseful for what happened."
A medical report tendered to the court said Wright suffered from several metal health problems including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), agoraphobia and a panic disorder.
Wright fined $4,000, no conviction
Magistrate Gary Finger fined the officer $4,000 and no conviction was recorded, saying that "prior to these offences you had a distinguished career".
"Why you accessed the information of Laura Geitz, well who knows," he said.
Outside court, Mr Gnech said Wright was happy the case was over.
"It has been a long road for him," he said.
"We're glad the court took into consideration the circumstances he had to deal with in that time.
"Now my client is going to focus on himself, his health and his family."
The court heard Wright submitted his medical retirement from the Queensland Police Service and his lawyer said he was unlikely to ever work again.
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