A POLICE officer has been placed on a six-month-good behaviour bond, without conviction, after being found guilty of breaching a Family Violence Protection Order.
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The 42-year-old man, who can not be named, was accused of stalking a fellow member over several months after she ended their engagement.
In sentencing at the Bendigo Magistrates Court on Friday, Magistrate Phillip Goldberg said "this is a case of a person slow to accept the relationship was over".
Magistrate Goldberg dismissed the stalking charges but found the man guilty of breaching an intervention order by presenting at the woman's home in December 2012.
"You had had something to drink, how much I can't say," he said.
"You knew you were prohibited from attending there ... you shouldn't have been there."
You knew you were prohibited from attending there ... you shouldn't have been there.
- Magistrate Goldberg
Magistrate Goldberg noted the man had not caused any violence and took into account his mental health.
"It does aggravate your position you were a police officer at the time, in recognition of your responsibilities," he said.
Magistrate Goldberg said the man was not entitled to a "discount" because he had pleaded not guilty. The man was sentenced a good behaviour bond without conviction.
Defence barrister Michael Cahill said the case had attracted media exposure and although his client had not been named there were people in the community who knew his identity.
"He's been ostracised," he said.
"There's been a significant amount of embarrassment and unfortunately it doesn't end there ... there will be police disciplinary proceedings."