Darren Brown, 54, was found guilty of the single charge after he was acquitted of four assault-related charges by a jury in the Warrnambool County Court earlier this month. 

He was convicted and fined $4000.

Judge Gerard Mullaly said Brown was temporarily suspended from his role as sergeant at Casteron police station after the charges were laid.

He said Brown had an exemplary police career that spanned 26 years and was at real risk of ending it if a conviction was recorded.

But a penalty without conviction would undermine the seriousness of Brown’s offending, Mr Mullaly said, adding that a conviction would be “a punishment in and of itself”. 

On March 27, 2016, Brown was having dinner with the victim and her friend at the victim’s home. 

The victim became upset and she left the table. She later returned and her friend left the house. 

Brown was angry that the victim had left the table and an argument erupted. He followed her into a bedroom and grabbed her by the arms before pushing her back over a bed and holding her down for some time. 

The victim eventually wiggled free. She suffered bruises to her arms and back.

In a victim impact statement the victim said she had regular headaches, panic attacks and flashbacks. 

She said she had difficulty sleeping and that her independence, strength and confidence was shattered. 

“I doubt I’ll ever be the same person again,” she said. 

Mr Mullaly said a small woman had been physically harmed by a large man.

He said character references written by Brown’s family referred to the offending as “out of character” and a “split second mistake that ruined his reputation and career”. 

He credited Brown for his community involvement as a rotary club president and member of the RSL. 

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