Police officer assaults children in Hornsby
An off-duty Police Officer lost part of his appeal to lessen the sentences he received for a bizarre attack on kids cycling through Hornsby Plaza last January.
The 44-year-old officer has since been on reduced duties after he slapped, punched and shoved the children on their bikes. The assaults left one 11-year-old with a broken arm.
Court documents state that three teenagers and an 11-year-old were riding on a nearby mountain bike trail called Old Man’s Valley Mountain Bike Trail when they rode to Hornsby Plaza for lunch.
The Court heard that the officer, Daniel Turner, of Potts Hill in Sydney’s Western Suburbs, did not break stride following the fall of the 11-year-old. He did not return once to check on the welfare of the children.
The children dialled 000 and followed Turner around until local police arrived.
The officer was convicted of three counts of assault and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. NSW Police demoted him to leading senior constable since the incidents.
A bid to reduce the sentence for assault
Turner appeared in the Downing Centre District Court this week in a bid to reduce his sentence.
The officer’s criminal defence lawyer told the court that the officer was driven by a desire to protect his family.
This was rejected by Judge Dina Yehia.
“I am satisfied, having watched the footage, the cyclists didn’t present any threat to himself or his family,” Her Honour said.
Judge Yehia confirmed the sentence of a 15-month community corrections order and 12-month conditional release order, with convictions, would remain in place for the assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a single assault respectively. She reduced the remaining two assaults to a 12-month conditional release order without conviction.
If you’ve had an encounter with the police and want to seek legal advice, contact O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors on 02 9261 4281.
