A New South Wales police officer has avoided jail time for threatening to rape the daughter of Sarah Hanson-Young during a phone call to the Greens senator's office.
Senior Constable Sean Daniel Murphy pleaded guilty to the offence in November, but did not appear in court as he was in a mental health facility being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder.
He was in court on Friday and was sentenced to a two-year good behaviour bond and a $5,500 fine.
Murphy made the phone call in July last year and spoke to Tammy-Jo Sutton, a staff member of Senator Hanson-Young in her South Australian electorate office.
During the call he asked for a photo of the senator's daughter.
When the staffer refused and asked why, Murphy threatened to sexually assault the child.
"Ms Sutton was shocked, shaken and upset by the call," Magistrate Megan Greenwood said.
"It has had a profound impact on her."
Magistrate Greenwood said Ms Sutton had cried as she told Ms Hanson-Young about the call.
She was unable to concentrate at work and was unable to sleep that night and the following nights.
"Ms Hanson-Young points out the cowardice of targeting a child, making the child feel unsafe in the world," Magistrate Greenwood said.
"She worries that because of the offending and because it was by a police officer … it will affect their views as to how safe they are able to feel in the community."
Hanson-Young speaks out
The Greens senator welcomed Magistrate Greenwood's decision and told the ABC the officer's comments were "a result of anti-social attitudes and beliefs about women".
"No woman deserves to be abused or threatened with violence, whether they are a politician, a politician's daughter or a woman on the street," Ms Hanson-Young said.
Murphy's lawyer John Davidson said his client had witnessed horrific incidents during his career as a police officer, eventually leading to PTSD and alcoholism, which explained his client's "abhorrent" behaviour.
Murphy received a medal of valour during his time as a policeman.
"It is a tragic end to a decorated career of a good man … a very sad finalisation," Mr Davidson said.
The prosecutor argued Murphy had a low prospect of rehabilitation.
Murphy was ordered to pay a $5,500 fine and given a two-year Commonwealth Recognisance (the federal equivalent of a good behaviour bond) with a $500 surety.
The magistrate ordered several conditions, including that Murphy report daily to Community Corrections, remain in the care of his psychiatrist and drink no alcohol.
