Allegations against a South Coast police officer of domestic violence, harassment and intending to pervert the course of justice have been proven.
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Sergeant Mark William Dudley, 41, of North Narooma, appeared in Batemans Bay Local Court on Friday, January 29, facing three counts of common assault, and one count each of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalking/intimidating, using a postal service to harass and contravening an AVO.
Dudley had pleaded not guilty to these charges, but in earlier proceedings had pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to ensure safe keeping of a prohibited weapon.
Delivering his judgement, Magistrate Doug Dick said Dudley's former partner Jacinta Hayward-Ryan had given credible evidence.
"Jacinta was a witness worthy of being accepted as a witness of truth," Magistrate Dick told the court.
While evidence was given about past events, including an assault 14 years earlier and "memories are unstable and malleable", Magistrate Dick said Ms Hayward-Ryan had provided context which supported her claims, such as being pregnant at the time of one assault.
"The court does not agree with the defence that Jacinta's evidence was tainted by bitterness," Magistrate Dick said.
"Having weighed up the evidence, the court prefers the evidence of Jacinta beyond reasonable doubt."
The court has been adjourned for sentencing assessments before a sentence is imposed.
Dudley was suspended from duty in February 2020 when he was charged.