A FORMER Ballarat police officer has been given his second good behaviour bond without conviction, this time after he pleaded guilty to stalking a woman.
Senior Constable Andrew Griffin, 39, a suspended police officer currently attached to the Melton Police Station, sent the woman 60 text messages, 11 emails and three handwritten letters over a three month period in early 2008.
According to court documents obtained by The Courier, on one occasion in February 2008 the victim returned a shirt to Myer that she had previously purchased as a Christmas gift for Griffin.
When he learnt that she had taken it back, Griffin re-purchased the shirt and sent her a picture text message of him wearing it.
Another time Griffin arrived at the victim’s house and was told he was not allowed inside.
But then, as she moved away from the front door, he began yelling at her.
He followed the victim around the house from the outside, talking to her through the windows. He only left when she threatened to call the police.
Last Thursday Griffin appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to one count of stalking and was sentenced to a good behaviour bond without conviction, including an order to pay $500 to the court fund.
The sentence was identical to what was handed down in 2009, when he fronted court over an incident in which he smashed the front windscreen of another police officer’s car with a cricket bat.
On that occasion Griffin claimed he had seen the colleague kissing a female co-worker with whom Griffin was in a casual relationship.
Griffin started abusing the male colleague and slammed his wrist in the window.
The colleague apologised, telling Griffin they could sort it out. Then he invited Griffin to strike him, but the offer was declined.
Following that incident Griffin was transferred to Melton Police Station, where his employment again remains uncertain.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said Griffin has been suspended with pay since March 22 this year, and will now be the subject of a discipline inquiry at a date still to be set.
He said Griffin’s suspension status will now be reviewed by the Ethical Standards Department.