‘Capable’ former UK police officer made up qualifications to get high-paid Victorian government jobs

A former police officer from the UK who lied about his work and training historical past, together with claiming diplomas from a pretend college, to realize high-paying Victorian authorities jobs has been spared a jail time period.

Peter Ravenscroft labored as a police officer till he migrated to Australia along with his household in 2007.

Over 5 years, the 56-year-old “blatantly lied” to safe employment in plenty of jobs, together with one the place he earned greater than $450,000, the Victorian county courtroom heard on Wednesday.

Ravenscroft, who pleaded responsible to acquiring monetary benefit by deception, claimed he had been a detective inspector for the UK Nationwide Crime Squad, when in actuality he was a detective constable at Sussex police.

He informed potential employers he was a Leeds College fellow, held a bachelor of training from Aston College, and had two diplomas from Guildford College, which doesn't exist.

He additionally solid certificates of commendation and coaching from Sussex police.

The pretend historical past helped him acquire employment on the Division of Treasury and Finance and Frankston metropolis council, the place he was paid a complete of $456,038 as a compliance and security supervisor over a number of years.

He then moved to the Victorian ombudsman, the place he earned $196,857, after making a pretend referee named “Dr John Marshall” who he mentioned supervised him at Frankston council.

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Decide Angela Ellis mentioned the lies have been “most likely totally pointless”, since he carried out properly in some roles and was a extremely adorned UK police officer.

“Deceiving potential employers with such blatant and calculated lies is appalling behaviour certainly,” she mentioned.

“You clearly have been capable of carry out a minimum of a kind of roles greater than capably, which is what makes your offending all of the extra inexplicable.”

Ravenscroft was convicted and handed a two-year neighborhood corrections order. He should carry out 180 hours of unpaid neighborhood work and bear psychological well being remedy and rehabilitation.