Former top crime investigator Mark Standen may have felt trapped by family problems but was not mentally ill when he committed drug crimes, a psychiatrist says.
Dr Bruce Westmore said that as Standen still maintained his innocence, the psychiatrist could not make any link, if there was any, between his problems and his criminal behaviour.
He was giving evidence today in the NSW Supreme Court at the sentencing hearing of Standen, 54.
In August, the former assistant director of investigations for the NSW Crime Commission was found guilty of plotting to import 300kg of pseudoephedrine, used to make the drugs known as speed and ice.
The experienced narcotics officer was also convicted of taking part in the supply of 300kg of the substance and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
The offences occurred between January 2006 and June 2008.
Dr Westmore told the court Standen had told him of his wife's long-standing mental health issues, including her paranoia and hospital admissions, and that he had compartmentalised his life.
"He said he went to work and tried to have a smile on his face," he said.
"He said he believes his whole view of the world was a bit fake."
Standen told him that in August 2006 he began a relationship with another woman and "that lady remains supportive".
Dr Westmore said he accepted that the family situation Standen described caused him distress, but found no direct relationship between that and his crimes.
"I do not see any mental health issues in relation to the criminal behaviour," he said.
He noted Standen had not acknowledged any wrongdoing and therefore was not making any link between his family issues and his behaviour.
But he said Standen appeared to have felt trapped, and "trapped people can do desperate things".
Wayne Creighton, general manager of the Special Purpose Correction Centre at Sydney's Long Bay jail, described Standen's treatment in the maximum-security facility which houses inmates under protection.
He has his own cell which has a bed, TV, radio, shower and toilet. The cell has a small exercise yard or "breezeway" at the rear, and to the front is a kitchenette.
He has no access to the yard and kitchenette from around 3pm to 7am, when he is locked in the cell itself.
Standen has been in custody for three years and five months, and for two thirds of that time he had no access to any other inmates.
From March 2009 to January 2010 he associated with one other prisoner for one to two hours a day.
Other proceedings revealed that inmate was former Federal Court judge Marcus Einfeld, who served time for lying over a speeding ticket.
Mr Creighton said that since July, Standen had again been associating by mutual agreement with one other inmate.
Dr Westmore told the court that Standen said he deliberately did not read quickly, "so his books don't run out".
Tim Game SC, for the crown, said Standen had used his position as a very senior law enforcement officer to further the objectives of the plot and maximise the chances of its success.
"Considering that the offender's position and duties were focused on combating serious drug crime, it is difficult to conceive of a more grave breach of trust than that involved in the importation offence," he said.
The hearing is continuing.
