Former police officer spared jail after sharing intimate photos of arrested woman
He stole intimate photos off the phone of a woman he’d just arrested before sharing them with colleagues on social media.
But a former police officer was spared jail on Tuesday thanks in part to a letter written to the court by the NSW Police Commissioner.
Instead, Steven Albee copped a fine at the Darling Centre Court.
The court heard the former Senior Constable was literally sick to his stomach after being sentenced for a gross abuse of power.
Albee accessed a woman’s phone and the photos on it when she was in the cells at St Mary’s police station for refusing a roadside drug test in April 2017.
He uploaded four explicit photos of the woman and her boyfriend onto a Facebook chat page, then shared them with four colleagues.
The magistrate said officers are in a “unique position” and are given an important role.
“They are privy to a significant amount of very sensitive information and there are strict guidelines to what a police officer may or may not do,” magistrate Jennifer Atkinson said.
Albee’s lawyer, Warwick Anderson, said his client is horrified by the events.
“He’s lost his career. He’s paid a very, very heavy price,” Mr Anderson said.
Albee was facing a maximum 12 months jail but was given a discount.
The court heard he had been helping police with sensitive investigations. The magistrate said that was the only thing stopping her from putting him behind bars.
A letter from the Police Commissioner helped his cause, along with his early guilty plea.
He was placed on a two year good behaviour bond and fined $1000.
“I think it was an appropriate result in all the circumstances,” Mr Anderson said, but his victims were not happy with the outcome.
“If you can’t trust the cops who can you trust?” they asked.
While his lawyer says Albee has apologised to his victims, they claim they are still waiting to hear from him.