{"id":128544,"date":"2025-08-08T08:08:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T08:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/128544\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T08:08:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T08:08:12","slug":"former-nsw-police-officers-jailed-over-assault-pepper-spray-of-mentally-unwell-woman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/128544\/","title":{"rendered":"Former NSW Police officers jailed over assault, pepper spray of mentally unwell woman"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Two former Sydney police officers will spend at least three years in jail for the &#8220;gratuitous cruelty&#8221; they inflicted upon a naked, mentally unwell woman who was assaulted and pepper sprayed during a welfare check.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\"><strong>Warning: This story contains images and descriptions of violence that some readers may find distressing.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The actions of Timothy John Trautsch, 30, and Nathan Black, 28, were recorded on body-worn camera after they were called to an Emu Plains cul-de-sac in January 2023, and found the woman sitting on the ground.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Their subsequent treatment of her, after telling the 48-year-old she would be taken to hospital under the Mental Health Act, was described on Friday by NSW District Court Judge Graham Turnbull as &#8220;a deliberate and ongoing attack&#8221;.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"EmphasisedText_quote__TE6kn\"><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s certainly, to my mind, a matter that sits quite clearly as a most egregious breach of the law,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>  he said.If you or anyone you know needs help:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lifeline.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Lifeline<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0131 114<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/kidshelpline.com.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Kids Helpline<\/a> on 1800 551 800<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondblue.org.au\/get-support\/get-immediate-support\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Beyond Blue<\/a> on 1300 224 636<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/13yarn.org.au\" data-component=\"Link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">13 YARN<\/a> on 13 92 76<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Suicide Call Back Service<\/a> on 1300 659 467<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/mensline.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">MensLine Australia<\/a> on 1300 789 978<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/headspace.org.au\/eheadspace\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Headspace<\/a> on 1800 650 890<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/au.reachout.com\/\" data-component=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">ReachOut<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sane.org\/get-support\/sane-support-services\" data-component=\"Link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SANE <\/a>on 1800 187 263<\/li>\n<li>Call triple-0 if you need immediate care<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Trautsch will serve a non-parole period of three years, with a head sentence of five years and nine months, while his younger co-offender received a non-parole period of three years and three months with a head sentence of five years and nine months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The court heard the unmedicated woman had schizophrenia, was experiencing a psychotic episode and had been released from Amber Laurel Correctional Centre earlier that day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Trautsch and Black both pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, common assault and misusing a prohibited weapon.<\/p>\n<p>Attack shared on Facebook Messenger<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">According to the agreed facts, Trautsch used his pepper spray to the woman&#8217;s face and genitals, while Black dragged her along the road by her hair and also used his spray.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Both men repeatedly kicked and stomped on her while she was on the ground.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">At one point, Trautsch is recorded in the facts as saying &#8220;that&#8217;s enough, there could be cameras&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Former NSW Police officers Timothy John Trautsch and Nathan Black at an incident in 2023 Emu Plain\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/e7ba782619304345159445fd563b6ebd\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">The woman, who was found naked, was assaulted and peppered sprayed by the officers. (Supplied)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">When hospital staff asked the officers whether the woman had been sprayed to her genitals, Black replied: &#8220;Yes, you have to do what you have to do&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Black admitted he later shared clips of the video via Facebook Messenger with a colleague.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">He wrote: &#8220;She was f***ed the whole body worn is so good shows her being f***ed&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Black also claimed, in his messages, that &#8220;she had my cuffs and almost had a full hold of them and we had no spray left&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Black pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally publishing protected information over his sharing of the body-worn footage.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;A lot of self-justification&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Judge Turnbull said the use of pepper spray was &#8220;clearly calculated \u2026 to inflict the maximum pain and discomfort while purporting to try and free some handcuffs from her hand&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">He said the former officers showed &#8220;complete and utter contempt for the victim&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;It seems they just didn&#8217;t care at all.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The judge said in one section of the body-worn footage, Trautsch&#8217;s demeanour &#8220;unfortunately is consistent with some evident wry humour on his part&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">He found the men were in a heightened state of anger, frustration and malice when they inflicted &#8220;gratuitous violence&#8221; after being confronted with a challenging situation.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"CCTV of former NSW Police officer Timothy John Trautsch\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1c2f9378a3c1c731df23e48d05509d36\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Judge Turnbull said in one section of the body-worn footage, Trautsch&#8217;s demeanour &#8220;unfortunately is consistent with some evident wry humour&#8221;. (Supplied)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">In defence material before the court, the judge said there was &#8220;a lot of self-justification&#8221; including Black&#8217;s claims of PTSD, and an inability to address his own mental health problems due to workplace stigma and toxicity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Trautsch too had attempted to &#8220;slide the responsibility in part into the lap of the employer and the job&#8221;, but overall the judge said both offenders were young men with prior good character.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"EmphasisedText_quote__TE6kn\"><p>&#8220;Those who offer themselves up to serve the community \u2026 are expected to not only enforce the law but abide by it, strictly,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>  he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">In a statement following the judgment, Acting NSW Police Commissioner David Hudson said it was &#8220;one of the worst examples of contravening our core values and ethics I have ever seen&#8221; in his career of more than four decades.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;This behaviour completely contradicts the commitment we make as officers to uphold the values and ethics of wearing the blue uniform,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;It is simply not what we stand for as police who make a pledge to protect the community.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;I&#8217;m very sorry for what the victim endured, especially when it was at the hands of police officers who were called there to assist her.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The men resigned from the force in August 2023, before they were removed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The woman has since died in circumstances that were &#8220;in no way related to \u2026 these crimes&#8221;, the judge said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Two former Sydney police officers will spend at least three years in jail for the &#8220;gratuitous cruelty&#8221; they&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":128545,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[37125,4740,26461,5333,78516,50,78517,78514,9309,78513,17953,5332,17024,78515,5330],"class_list":{"0":"post-128544","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-alleged-assault","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-internal-investigation","11":"tag-jail","12":"tag-nathan-black","13":"tag-news","14":"tag-non-parole","15":"tag-nsw-district-court","16":"tag-nsw-police","17":"tag-pepper-spray","18":"tag-police-officers","19":"tag-prison","20":"tag-sentencing","21":"tag-timothy-john-trautsch","22":"tag-western-sydney"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114992126575822804","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128544","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=128544"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128544\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/128545"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=128544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=128544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=128544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}