Impersonating a police detective has earned a man a prison term of a month, which he will serve concurrently with a one-month term for obtaining by deception.
David Gerrad Collins (58), of Oamaru, appeared in the Oamaru District Court yesterday charged with pretending to be a detective of the CID in Christchurch, leading a person to believe he was a police employee.
The offence carries a maximum penalty under the Police Act of 12 months in prison and a fine of $15,000.
The wording of the charge was disputed by Collins.
His lawyer, Helgi Henderson, said no-one would have believed that he was a police employee.
The court heard Collins approached Gillian Bartrum and Timothy Nuttall, the drivers of two vehicles involved in a minor traffic accident at the intersection of Itchen and Thames Sts about 8pm on October 3, 2013.
He addressed himself directly to Miss Bartrum, claiming to be ''Detective Collins of the Christchurch CID or CIB'', Judge Joanna Maze said.
Dressed in a tidy suit jacket, he claimed to have seen the accident happen, telling Miss Bartrum she was at fault and could be arrested if she did not supply him with her insurance details on the spot.
By the formality of his language and the way he had approached her, Miss Bartrum told the court, initially she had no reason to doubt he was a detective.
She did not know if the man had the power to arrest her, but thought it seemed ''heavy handed''.
Not knowing her insurance details, she went to the Last Post Pub and Restaurant nearby to ring her bank. She rang the police from the restaurant.
Collins then approached Mr Nuttall and asked for his details and the keys to his vehicle.
Mr Nuttall declined. Collins then asked for a lift before offering Mr Nuttall a can of beer, which he had in his bag, in the liquor ban area of Oamaru.
Mr Nuttall told the court Collins' behaviour was not consistent with being a police officer ''at all''.
Judge Maze said while Miss Bartrum later changed her mind about Collins' legitimacy as a police employee, that could not negate the offence that had occurred.
Entering the dock, Collins told Judge Maze he was ''very remorseful''. Judge Maze found Collins guilty and sentenced him to one month imprisonment, and ordered witness expenses of $50.
On a charge of obtaining motel accommodation in Dunedin by deception on November 10, 2013, Collins was sentenced to one month imprisonment (concurrent), reparation $228.50.
He was also resentenced on two charges of driving while disqualified, to one month imprisonment, bringing the total sentence to two months.
Sergeant Craig Sew Hoy, of Oamaru, told the Otago Daily Times the public should request or verify a person's identity whenever there was uncertainty.
Even if dressed in plain clothes, police employees should be carrying a formal identity card, which the public could ask to see.
''If they have some concern or uncertainty, contact police straight away because we take it very seriously,'' he said.
