'Do you know under Islam you can sleep with nine-year-old girls?' Police officer threatened to rape Greens senator's daughter in an offensive phone call

  • A police officer has pleaded guilty to a lewd call to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young 
  • During the phone call, Sean Daniel Murphy, 57, asked for a photo of her daughter
  • When asked why, Mr Murphy replied with a lewd remark about the young girl
  • The 57-year-old told police that he was drunk when he called the senator's office

A police officer told Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young's office he wanted to 'rape her daughter' in a phone call, court documents show.

NSW Police senior constable Sean Daniel Murphy, 57, has pleaded guilty to making the offensive remarks during a brief call to Senator Hanson-Young's office in July.

Court documents released on Tuesday revealed the 57-year-old asked a Greens campaign manager for a photo of Senator Hanson-Young's daughter during the call. 

At the time of Sean Daniel Murphy's arrest, senator Hanson-Young (pictured) she had received several threats as a result of comments Senator David Leyonhjelm made about her

At the time of Sean Daniel Murphy's arrest, senator Hanson-Young (pictured) she had received several threats as a result of comments Senator David Leyonhjelm made about her

When he was told no and asked why he wanted such a photo, Mr Murphy said he wanted to sexually assault the girl, according to the tendered factsheet.

He told federal police in a recorded interview three weeks after the call that he didn't know if he'd made the offensive comment as he was drunk on wine at the time.   

But he did recall saying the senator 'needed to get f*****', asking for the daughter's photo and saying: 'Do you know under Islam you can f*** nine-year-old girls?'   

At the time of his arrest, senator Hanson-Young she had received several threats as a result of comments Senator David Leyonhjelm made about her, ABC News reported. 

The officer also admitted to police that he'd made a similar call to the senator's Canberra office on July 4. 

His barrister, John Davidson, told the Downing Centre Local Court his client was 'contrite without relief' and offered to apologise in person to Senator Hanson-Young.

'He is appalled by his conduct. He immediately admitted what he had done,' Mr Davidson said.

Mr Davidson entered a plea of guilty on behalf of Mr Murphy, who he said was receiving psychiatric treatment in hospital for post-traumatic stress disorder after three decades of police work on the street.

Mr Murphy's barrister John Davidson (pictured), told the Downing Centre Local Court his client was 'contrite without relief' and offered to apologise in person to Senator Hanson-Young

Mr Murphy's barrister John Davidson (pictured), told the Downing Centre Local Court his client was 'contrite without relief' and offered to apologise in person to Senator Hanson-Young

He told the court that Mr Murphy had received two bravery awards over his 36-year police career for his work in 'troubled areas' such as Kings Cross and Redfern.

'He's seen more blood and mayhem than perhaps anyone else can imagine,' Mr Davidson said. 

Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson said the difficulty was the alleged offending had been 'quite distressing' to the people concerned.

'There is no issue with that,' Mr Davidson said.

'He is no threat. He will never be a threat.'

Ms Atkinson placed Mr Murphy on bail on the proviso he not contact any witnesses or the senator's electorate office and that he reside either at a Campsie address or the hospital where he is being treated.

NSW Police confirmed on Tuesday that Murphy is currently suspended.

He will be sentenced at the Downing Centre Local Court on February 1, 2019.

 

 

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Police officer pleads guilty to threatening to rape Greens senator's young relative

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