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  • December 14, 2024
Sex crimes detective convicted of abusing teenage complainant

Sex crimes detective convicted of abusing teenage complainant

NSW police detective Glen Coleman, 58, will now spend at least two years in prison after being found guilty of abusing his position as an officer by sexually touching the 19-year-old twice without her consent in 2022.

Coleman sat through Judge Robert Montgomery’s lengthy sentence with his head in his hands on Thursday, as the judge condemned his misuse of public office to violate a vulnerable person who came to police seeking safety.

NSW police detective Glen Coleman, 58, will now spend at least two years in prison after being found guilty of abusing his position as an officer by sexually touching the 19-year-old twice without her consent in 2022. (Nick Moir)

In an interrogation room at Windsor police station, northwest of Sydney, and in a local park, the married detective asked to see the woman’s breasts and then touched them without her consent.

He asked for sexual favors in exchange for money, went to a strip club to watch her dance and, on one occasion at the police station, left $70 on the table in the interrogation room before they had sex.

A NSW District Court jury acquitted him of three counts of rape and four other counts of sexual touching without consent.

Coleman’s disregard for the safety of a sexual assault complainant would damage the trust the community should have in its police force, making the offender “extremely serious”, the judge said.

“Although he was aware of his serious breaches of police guidelines, he decided to continue to betray the public trust (and) harm the victim,” Judge Montgomery said.

Coleman had been a serving officer for 21 years at the time of his offense.

He breached the police code of conduct, failed to declare a conflict of interest after speaking to the victim and requested the matter continue to be investigated when he moved from Windsor Station.

He was supported in court by three people, two of whom cried during the details of his crimes.

The judge referred to a Snapchat message in which Coleman offered the teen $700 for two hours of sex at a motel.

“This was surprisingly clear evidence to the jury of the perpetrator’s conduct in his pursuit of the victim for his sexual gratification,” Judge Montgomery said.

“His desire to engage in sexual conduct, to continue bargaining, to pay for lap dances and other sexual conduct led to his misconduct.”

During an earlier hearing, the victim told the court that her trust in the police had been damaged.

“I trusted that I could confide in the police and that they would take my situation seriously, but unfortunately that was not the case and I was taken advantage of,” she said.

Expert evidence led the judge to conclude that Coleman’s offending was at least partly due to mental impairment, including trauma suffered while working in law enforcement.

But he said this did little to reduce his culpability because of the “complicity” and planning he showed during the offending.

Judge Montgomery imposed a sentence of three years and seven months, with a non-parole period of two years and two months.

Coleman has already served six months in custody and could be eligible for release in July 2026.

Support is available via the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Family Violence Advisory Service bee 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).