What began as a West Auckland cop's attempt to calm tension escalated into habitual smuggling of contraband to prisoners.
On 77 occasions over a six-month period, Lotovale Perese passed on items including tattoo ink, cigarettes, lighters and USB sticks to 16 prisoners. At the time he worked as a prisoner escort at the Waitakere District Court.
Yesterday the 42-year-old stood in the same court's dock and was sentenced to 150 hours' community work on 18 charges, including one of offering to supply cannabis.
His 13-year police career is over after he resigned from a job in which he was well respected, the court heard.
Defence lawyer Richard Earwaker said the offending began when Perese allowed tobacco into cells, in defiance of anti-smoking edicts.