A former AFP officer found guilty of assaulting a man in 2016 has walked free from the ACT Supreme Court on a six-month suspended sentence.
Wade Joseph Howell was found guilty by a jury of punching a man to the ground and continuing to hit him until he was unconscious.
On Friday, Justice David Mossop noted Howell had since been sacked by the AFP and was now a forklift driver.
He said at the time of the offence Howell had been in Canberra on a personal protection training course for the AFP.
The court heard Howell had followed the victim's partner out of Canberra nightspot Mooseheads, and was talking to her in a park when the man approached them.
Justice Mossop said Howell had clearly not acted in self defence, and had never offered any explanation for hitting the victim.
He said Howell had later tried to divert attention from his actions by walking the man back to his hotel and persuading the woman she did not want her partner there.
Justice Mossop said Howell also falsely played down his actions to police.
He commended the two AFP officers who reported Howell for sparking the internal investigation that led to the conviction.
Justice Mossop said the fallout had come at a personal cost.
"The consequences of his actions have obviously been catastrophic with regards to his career," he said.
"There can be little doubt he regrets the consequences for himself and his family."
But he said that unfortunately Howell had shown no recognition of harm to the victim.
Howell will serve a 30-month good behaviour order.
