Ex-cop loses sex with prostitute appeal

A former police officer who was jailed for abusing his power to get free sex from a prostitute has lost appeals against his conviction and sentence.

Nathan Thorose Connolly, 31, had denied charges of accepting a bribe from a sex worker and two charges of inducing sexual connection by threats.

He was found not guilty on one count of sex with consent induced by a threat, not guilty of accepting a bribe, but guilty on a second count of the threat charge after a High Court trial in Christchurch, and was sentenced to two years' jail.

Connolly, a constable and married father, had an ongoing relationship with the woman, paying her for sex until she identified him as a police officer in 2005.

The Crown said he later pulled her over and pointed out about $1000 worth of illegalities on the vehicle she was driving, saying he could have it towed away.

Instead, at his suggestion, they drove to a local cemetery and had sex, but Connolly did not pay her as he had in the past.

The court was told Connolly had free sex with the woman again after propositioning her while in uniform, but she refused when approached another time while Connolly was off-duty - an incident which happened after his superiors had been made aware of the situation and were supporting the woman.

In a Court of Appeal hearing last month, defence lawyer Jonathan Eaton said Connolly simply wanted to engage in sex as they had in the past, the only difference being the non-payment for doing so - an issue which was not raised by either party.

He said the fact Connolly was convicted on one of the threatening behaviour charges yet acquitted on the other proved there was an inconsistent verdict as both incidents involved similar circumstances.

Mr Eaton also argued against Connolly's sentence, saying it was excessive and that home detention would have been sufficient.

However, the appeals were rejected in a decision released by the court today.

The court said it was satisfied there was sufficient evidence for the jury to convict, and that the factual distinctions between the two counts of inducing sexual connection by threats provided a rational explanation for differing verdicts.

In regards to the two-year jail term, the court said it was satisfied that the sentence was entirely appropriate.

"Cases of this kind are rare in New Zealand but a firm response is required where a member of the police abuses his power and authority for private purposes," the court's decision read.

"We agree entirely with the Judge that the sentencing purposes of denunciation and general deterrence called for nothing less than a sentence of imprisonment in the circumstances of this case."

- NZPA