Former cop convicted over sex with prostitute

Former Christchurch police officer Nathan Thorose Connolly has been convicted on one charge of misusing his authority to get sex from a prostitute.

He had denied the charges of accepting a bribe from a sex worker and two charges of inducing sexual connection by threats.

The trial was told of warnings being given instead of traffic tickets, and a relationship continuing between Connolly and the sex worker involving free sex.

He had been a regular client - one who even qualified for a "discount" - before she discovered he was a police officer.

The jury deliberated for eight hours before delivering its verdicts in the High Court at Christchurch this afternoon at the end of the five-day trial.

It acquitted him on the charge of accepting the bribe and one of the other charges, but found him guilty on the third - an offence crown prosecutor Anne Toohey said carried a maximum sentence of 14 years jail.

Justice Christine French remanded Connolly on bail to December 17 for sentence.

She ordered a pre-sentence report covering his suitability for home detention but she also said she did not think that was a realistic option.

Defence counsel Jonathan Eaton said the verdicts were unusual and might require some legal issues to be resolved before the sentencing went ahead.

During the remand on bail, Connolly will have to surrender his passport and report three times a week to the Christchurch police.

He is also forbidden to go to Manchester Street, the centre of Christchurch's red light area for street sex workers.

Connolly's family and supporters left the Court House without making any comment to waiting media.

Canterbury Police District Commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said it was always disappointing when a person in a position of trust, abused that trust with the public and their work colleagues.

"A police officer is treated no differently to a member of the public in a situation such as this."

A criminal investigation and professional standards investigation were begun but the professional standards investigation was stopped when Connolly resigned.

Mr Cliff declined further comment as sentencing had not taken place.

Connolly joined police in November 2003 and resigned in December 2008.

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