Two more police officers have been charged with criminal offences after the alleged leaking of photos of former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley while she was in custody.
In a statement Victoria Police confirmed a senior constable from the Southern Metro Region had been charged with misconduct in public office, unauthorised access of police information and two counts of unauthorised disclosure of police information.
He has been suspended and will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on February 11 next year.
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Grand FinalBoth of the police officers charged will appear in court in February.Source: AAP
A constable from North West Metro Region has also been charged with two counts of unauthorised disclosure of police information.
He has been transferred to “other duties” and will appear at the Ringwood Magistrates Court on February 5.
“The investigation into these serious acts of misconduct remains ongoing,” a Victoria Police spokesman said on Monday morning.
Two more cops have been charged over allegedly leaking photos of former Kangaroos coach Dani Laidley.Source: News Limited
It comes after a leading senior constable was last week charged similar offences over allegedly sharing photos of Ms Laidley.
Ms Laidley, previously known as Dean, changed her name after her lawyer Rob Stary explained in November that his client had undergone a gender transition.
The photos of Ms Laidley in custody were widely circulated, and the leak was slammed by Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton as “appalling”.
Victoria Police have charged a detective leading senior constable over the alleged circulation of a photograph of former AFL coach Dani Laidley inside a police station, while hundreds of employees have been interviewed so far.
Ms Laidley, the former North Melbourne coach who has since undergone a gender transition, admitted in November to stalking but avoided a criminal conviction and was put on an adjourned undertaking to be of good behaviour for 18 months.
On May 3, after being arrested, two photographs of her inside a police station were leaked and widely shared on social media.
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Victoria Police confirmed on Wednesday the officer had been charged with one count of unauthorised access of police information, four counts of unauthorised disclosure of police information and one count of misconduct in public office.
He remains suspended and will face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 30, 2021.
Two other police officers and one police custody officer also remain suspended and face potential criminal action, while 39 police officers and seven public servants will face internal disciplinary action.
Former AFL coach and champion player Dani Laidley admitted to stalking but avoided a criminal record as former teammates backed the premiership player.
Ms Laidley appeared using an audio link in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday for a hearing over the stalking allegation.
It was revealed last week the 53-year-old had been through a gender transition and now identified as a woman.
She sent texts, took photos of the victim’s car and apartment, put flowers on the car and repeatedly called the woman between April 25 and May 2, the court was told.
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Ms Laidley called the victim 43 times between 12.28am and 8.24pm on May 2, according to a summary read in court.
Former AFL coach Dani Laidley – previously known as Dean. Picture: Jamie MoreySource: Supplied
Her lawyer Rob Stary said his client was remorseful and at the time of the offences was immersed in a “drug addled” culture.
But she had an extended stay in a rehabilitation clinic, complied with bail conditions after spending nine days in custody and reconnected with her children, Mr Stary said.
He argued a conviction could undermine Ms Laidley’s plans to help others in the trans community by sharing her experience.
“That’s what she wants to do, she wants to be able to utilise that experience in a positive way,” Mr Stary said.
A court sketch of former AFL player and coach Dani Laidley during an earlier court appearance. Picture: AAP Image/Nine NewsSource: AAP
Former teammates, including North Melbourne players Mark Brayshaw and Anthony Stevens, also gave references to support the former footballer over the charges.
Mr Brayshaw described his friend as a “remarkable and inspiring person” in a letter read in court.
“He greatly admires your resilience,” Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said of Mr Brayshaw.
The former player learnt “a lot about the issues in the trans community”, and Ms Laidley shared with him “almost unconditionally”.
Mr Stevens said the ex-coach showed strength in her determination to be the best version of herself after “hitting rock bottom”.
Former North Melbourne teammate Mark Brayshaw supported Laidley. Picture: Brendan FrancisSource: News Corp Australia
Six other charges, including using a carriage service to menace, were thrown out.
Ms Laidley’s AFL career began as a player for the West Coast Eagles in 1987 before moving to North Melbourne at the end of 1992. She helped the club take the premiership in 1996.
She was also coach of North Melbourne for seven years and has since been part of coaching teams at Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Carlton.
The magistrate also accepted Ms Laidley suffered extra-curial punishment because of the coverage of the alleged leaking of a photograph showing the former player in custody.
Mr Vandersteen placed the former premiership player on an adjourned undertaking to be of good behaviour for 18 months, and she must comply with the treatment of her doctor.
Two-time premiership coach Denis Pagan has revealed North Melbourne legend Wayne Carey reached out to Dean Laidley with a heartfelt message.
Laidley was arrested by Victoria Police in May with the former North Melbourne coach bailed on stalking and drugs charges, with the 53-year-old to face court on December 14.
Speaking on the Herald Sun’s Sacked podcast, the former Roos and Blues coach spoke in detail how a number of past players have rallied around Laidley.
Back in May, foxfooty.com.au senior reporter Tom Morris revealed a section of North heavyweights along with the AFL Players’ Association and the AFL Coaches’ Association were working collaboratively to help support the 1996 premiership player.
“A committee has been formed and that’s one thing the Kangaroos do really well, they look after their own,” Pagan said.
“I know that Wayne got a message to him and his message was along the line of, ‘Forget about it, we still love you Dean’.
“And I thought to myself, ‘Gee, that was touching’.
“Different strokes for different blokes. It doesn’t make any difference to me, I know what Dean Laidley was to the Kangaroos when I coached him, and that’s what I remember him by.
“I hope he gets well and hopefully he can be productive. He had a good job and was coaching Maribyrnong Park, and one thing with Dean Laidley, he has had a lot of personal troubles, but he was a very good football coach.”
Pagan explained his frustration with drugs, but wanted Laidley to get better after a tough period of his life.
“I feel for Dean and drugs are the scourge of our society. I don’t know what Dean was taking or administering, but it just wrecks so many lives and so many people,” he said.
“All I remember is Dean Laidley playing for us and how tough he was. It is just so sad. I hope he gets better and he can lead a normal life.”
Former AFL coach and player Dean Laidley has been granted bail after being arrested earlier this month for allegedly stalking a woman.
Key points:
A court heard Dean Laidley allegedly called a woman 43 times in one evening and threatened to ram her car
Mr Laidley’s lawyer Phil Dunn QC told the court his client was suffering from long term mental health issues including gender dysphoria and substance abuse
Several high-profile AFL members including Mark Williams, Denis Pagan and Guy McKenna lodged character references for Mr Laidley
The AFL Players Association and several high-profile names in the league, including Mark Williams and Brent Harvey, supplied character references for Mr Laidley in support of his application for bail in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard Mr Laidley, 53, of Moonee Ponds, had been struggling with drug abuse for eight years and had a range of psychiatric issues, including gender dysphoria.
Mr Laidley, who coached North Melbourne after a playing career at the Kangaroos and West Coast, has been bailed to a rehabilitation centre for the next month.
The AFL Players Association said it would financially support Dean Laidley’s stay in a rehabilitation centre.(AAP: Julian Smith)
Police informant Senior Constable James Maddock told the court the woman was worried about Mr Laidley being released into rehabilitation.
“The victim is in short petrified of the accused,” he said.
“She details in one of her statements she is exhausted by this and it’s having a significant impact. She’s fearful of doing ordinary duties like going for shopping.”
Magistrate Kieran Gilligan said Mr Laidley was being granted bail due to his lack of criminal history and the possibility of him being held on remand for years, if the matter went to trial.
Victoria’s legal system is experiencing significant delays due to COVID-19.
Lawyer says former coach hit ‘rock bottom’ last year
The court heard there was a string of incidents before Mr Laidley was arrested, including taking photos outside the woman’s house and verbal abuse.
In one incident last month, Mr Laidley allegedly called her 43 times in one evening.
In another incident, he allegedly threatened to ram her car.
The court heard Mr Laidley was found with a small quantity of methamphetamine when he was arrested.
Four police officers were suspended last week after photos taken of Mr Laidley in custody showing him dressed in women’s clothing were shared on social media.
Mr Laidley’s lawyer Phil Dunn QC said the release of the photos “devastated” Mr Laidley and his family.
Mr Dunn told the court his client had hit “rock bottom” last year.
“He was lonely and depressed, and he was using drugs,” Mr Dunn said.
“Mr Laidley is not a bad man. He’s a man that’s lost his way.
“He’s lived in a cocoon for a long time. He went into a cocoon at the age of 17 to play football. He lived in a bubble that had structures around him.
“As he eased out of the AFL system and had to stand on his own two feet, he’s had some problems adjusting.”
The AFL Players Association will financially support Mr Laidley’s stay in rehabilitation.
Among several high-profile AFL names who provided character references for Mr Laidley were his predecessor as North Melbourne coach Denis Pagan, former teammates Guy McKenna, Wayne Schwass and Brent Harvey and former Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams.
“The man who is here now is a very different person from people who knew him and knew him well,” Mr Dunn said.
Victoria Police has suspended two more police officers over the leak of unauthorised photos of former AFL player and coach Dean Laidley in custody inside a police station.
Key points:
Four Victorian police officers have now been suspended over the privacy breach
The anti-corruption watchdog says it will oversee the police investigation
The Chief Commissioner says the leak was an act of “immaturity and gross stupidity”
The photos were taken when Laidley was in police custody last weekend on allegations of stalking, as well as other charges.
The 53-year-old from Moonee Ponds was arrested on Saturday night after an incident outside a St Kilda home about 9:00pm.
In a statement, police said Professional Standards Command had “suspended two further Victoria Police employees in relation to photos circulating on social media of a person who was in custody at a police station in Victoria”.
The two male senior constables are from the southern metropolitan region and are expected to be charged with a breach under section 227 of the Victoria Police Act, which is unauthorised disclosure of information.
There have now been four police officers suspended as part of the investigation.
Police said as the investigation was ongoing, there would be no further comment.
Independent oversight of police probe
Meanwhile, Victoria’s corruption watchdog said it would oversee the Victoria Police investigation into the “serious privacy breach”.
Victoria’s independent police oversight agency, IBAC, said the scope of Victoria Police’s investigation would address issues the watchdog considered necessary to restore public confidence and prevent future breaches.
The police investigation will examine the number of officers involved in taking the initial photographs and the conduct of any other officers who were present and aware of the behaviour.
It will also probe how other officers received the photographs and responded to them, including whether they further distributed the images.
IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich said the community was right to expect that police always conducted themselves in accordance with the law.
“Importantly, Victoria Police has confirmed they are looking at any underlying cultural issues, and how they can build on their work with the LGBTIQ community and ensure their officers have proper regard to human rights.
“Addressing any such cultural issues and improving police training will be fundamental to ensuring this type of behaviour is simply not tolerated and doesn’t happen again.”
Top cop’s ‘sense of shame’
Earlier on Friday, Victoria’s Chief Police Commissioner, Graham Ashton, said he felt ashamed of the force when he learnt the photo of Mr Laidley had been leaked in an act of “immaturity and gross stupidity”.
Mr Ashton said while Constable Prestney’s parents did not raise the incident with him at the funeral on Monday, “there was a sense of shame that I felt that someone in the force had done that on a day that we should have been honouring a police hero”.
He said it was clear “a lot of people” in the force had received the messages, and detectives were in the process of determining how widely it was shared.
Victoria Police has suspended a second officer over the alleged leaking of photos of former AFL coach Dean Laidley inside a police station while in police custody.
Key points:
The second officer suspended is from the southern metropolitan region, the force said
Dean Laidley was remanded in custody on stalking and other charges on Sunday
The officer is expected to be charged with making an unauthorised disclosure of information
Mr Laidley, 53, of Moonee Ponds, was arrested on stalking and other charges after an incident outside a home in St Kilda on Saturday night.
The former coach and 1996 North Melbourne premiership player faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday.
He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on May 11.
Photos of Mr Laidley inside the St Kilda Road Police Station were sent to a WhatsApp group then published online.
The suspended officer is a senior constable from the southern-metropolitan region.
Dean Laidley, a former AFL coach, did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody on Sunday night.(AAP: Julian Smith)
The officer is expected to be charged with a breach of the Victoria Police Act relating to the unauthorised disclosure of information.
The move by the Professional Standards Command followed the suspension of another senior constable on Monday.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton called the incident an “appalling” privacy breach which constituted “unacceptable conduct”.
He apologised on behalf of the force, saying, “clearly, we have let down that person”.
“We’ve breached their privacy and I do apologise on behalf of Victoria Police,” he said.
Former North Melbourne AFL coach Dean Laidley has been remanded in custody on allegations of stalking as well as other charges.
The 53-year-old from Moonee Ponds was arrested on Saturday night after an incident outside a home in St Kilda about 9:00pm.
The 1996 North Melbourne premiership player faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday.
The father of three did not apply for bail and remained in custody on Sunday evening. He is due to face court again on May 11.
Victoria police confirmed a “Moonee Ponds man man was held over to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today, Sunday 3 May,” a statement said.
“As the matter is before the court it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
Mr Laidley played for North Melbourne between 1993 and 1997 and had previously played for the West Coast Eagles from 1987-1992.
He coached North Melbourne from 2003-2009 before holding other coaching roles at Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Carlton — he finished the last of those at the end of the 2015 AFL season.
