The former wife of a NSW policeman convicted of domestic violence offences has slammed the court process as "pathetic" after the man was given a good behaviour bond and a $1500 fine.
The 44-year-old officer, who can't be named, threatened to kill his estranged wife during discussions about separation logistics, almost a decade after a violent incident in which he put her in a headlock.
His wife, who is also in the force and was a domestic violence liaison officer, says she is "shattered" by the sentence and disappointed by the state's court process.
"It's pathetic. It's all geared for the defender," she said outside Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.
"I'm not going to report anything ever again because why would I in a system that gives me nothing?"
The court heard the man told his then-wife "you'll be dead before you get anything" during an argument about finances of separation last year.
"I'll kill you myself," he said before the woman threatened to ring police.
"No one's going to believe you," he said "I'm a (police officer)."
The officer of 20 years was also found guilty of two offences from 2006 during which he made contact with the woman's ear as he punched a bed before wrestling with her and smashing a photo frame.
The woman ran to a verandah door and screamed "help, help" during the ordeal, the court heard.
Magistrate Lee Gilmour said the offences would have been scary at the time but found the victim probably wouldn't have suffered considerable lasting emotional affects.
The male officer had been facing more charges but the magistrate dismissed them, saying some, including an incident during which the woman was pinched on the bottom, were "trivial".
Magistrate Gilmour also found the woman had completely fabricated a story that the man had gone to headbutt her in 2014.
"What a mess and how sad is the situation," she said before giving her opinion that the man should not be expelled from the force.
"Police officers are human beings. They make mistakes just like everybody else."
The officer's offending constituted "big mistakes", she said.
The woman had wanted a five-year apprehended domestic violence order but Ms Gilmour ruled six months was all that was necessary.
The victim cried during proceedings and at one point left the court room.
"How could you possibly support that?" she said to plain-clothed police officers at the back of the court as she left.
The man, who has been placed on a good behaviour bond for 12 months, had no previous criminal history.
"This particular case illustrates how domestic violence can affect anyone," Ms Gilmour said.
