Rayney cop admits 'illegal' computer access

Prosecutors have called for a former detective who was involved in the hunt for the killer of Corryn Rayney to be jailed immediately, after he admitted accessing police computers to provide sensitive information to a young lawyer he was having a relationship with.

Carl Salvatore Casilli, who has since resigned from the WA police, appeared in the Perth Magistrate's Court this morning on Corruption and Crime Commission charges dating back to 2008.

The former Detective Sergeant pleaded guilty to providing police material to the female lawyer, including the police interview of a murder suspect and an affidavit about an intercept warrant.

Casilli's charges had no direct connection to the Rayney investigation.

Prosecutor James MacTaggart told the court how Casilli "shovelled" the information to the lawyer, who was not named, on request - which included police records about herself, and some of her clients.

And he said the acts - which he described as "grossly illegal" - warranted a prison term, and at times undermined the investigations of his police colleagues.

Casilli's lawyer Nick Lemmon denied that assertion, saying in most of the cases of unauthorised access, the information sent to the lawyer was material she could have gained access to through other means.

Mr Lemmon also said that Casilli's behaviour had been partially because he was on a "very difficult assignment, in a very difficult job".

"It became all consuming, and he became quite obsessed - and this led to his being in a difficult place in his personal life," Mr Lemmon said.

Sentencing of Casilli was adjourned until next month.

Mr Rayney was acquitted of murdering his wife, Corryn, and had attended court during previous appearances of Casilli. He was not present today.