A POLICE officer has been convicted of driving dangerously while on duty in Moree and has lost his licence.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Senior Constable Terrence John Payne is still serving in the NSW Police but was yesterday found guilty in Moree Local Court of driving in a manner dangerous to the public while on patrol on September 9, 2013.
Magistrate Michael O’Brien handed down his decision on the case yesterday and convicted Payne of the charge, fining him $500 and disqualifying him from driving for 12 months from yesterday.
However, Magistrate O’Brien found him not guilty of neglect of duty and a back-up charge of negligent driving was also withdrawn and dismissed following the guilty decision on the dangerous driving charge.
The conviction means Payne will now be subject to an internal investigation by NSW Police or the professional standards command, which could determine any disciplinary action or dismissal as a result of the conviction.
Payne was not present in court when the case was mentioned and instead was informed over the phone of the magistrate’s decision.
Yesterday, NSW police confirmed Payne was still serving as an officer but is not working in the Barwon Command.
Payne had fought the charges, pleading not guilty to the offences at a hearing which spanned several days over two sittings in Moree Local Court last month and December last year.
Payne was driving Moree patrol car 16 and located a motorcyclist, who had been the subject of a number of anonymous calls to police, appeared intoxicated and was not wearing a helmet, just before 9pm, before he allegedly pursued him without the right clearance from supervising police.
Prosecutors had argued Payne rear-ended the motorbike rider, but he was found not guilty of neglect of duty.
The court had been told Payne was behind the wheel of the category four vehicle, which is prohibited from engaging in pursuits according to the vehicle safety policy.
Several police took the stand during the hearing to give evidence and described the driving manner and the incident which occurred while Barwon police were patrolling the Boggabilla Rd, near the Newell Highway about 9pm on the date of the incident.
