A former NSW policeman who lied about popping pills during a drug-fuelled weekend with colleagues has been sentenced to home detention despite a magistrate previously saying prison was his likely destination.
In August, former Hunter Valley constable Matthew Dennis pleaded guilty to two counts of knowingly providing false information to the Police Integrity Commission after a weekend-long house party on the Gold Coast in October 2010.
Magistrate Lisa Stapleton said at the time she could see no option other than a nine-month custodial sentence.
But Dennis' mental illness meant he walked from the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday to start home detention for the same period.
Dennis's lawyer said during an earlier hearing that he had been suffering from ongoing mental health issues, including post traumatic stress, that flowed from two decades on the frontlines.
As part of his sentence, Dennis will be electronically monitored, be subject to frequent unannounced home visits, urine tests and regular police checks.
"It's a very onerous order," Ms Stapleton said.
Dennis will only be allowed to leave home for medical treatment, approved exercise and parental activities until his non-parole period expires on July 27, 2015.
"Should you breach the home detention order ... it may result with you having to serve time in custody," Ms Stapleton said.
Dennis initially told a private PIC hearing in October 2011 that he never consumed cocaine or ecstasy, nor possessed illegal drugs.
But three days later, he was brought back to the commission and shown secretly recorded footage of him taking an ecstasy pill.
Speaking outside the court, Dennis said he was "disappointed" by the way he was treated by police.
Disgraced former Detective Inspector Shane Diehm, who was sentenced in August to a maximum of 12 months for four counts of lying to the PIC over the same weekend, was in the court room on Friday. Diehm is appealing against his charges.
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