Spousebuster Brett Sutcliffe busted by an old lady
Telegraph - Kim Arlington
He's a private eye whose agency busts unfaithful partners. But Brett Sutcliffe yesterday faced court after he was busted - for posing as a federal police agent.
In an amusing twist, it was the sleuthing by the 77-year-old woman he hoped to deceive that led to his undoing.
Downing Centre Local Court heard that Sutcliffe - the director of private investigation firm Spousebusters - was carrying out surveillance from a parked car in North Bondi last July.
Elderly resident Pauline English asked him to move from the disabled parking zone. After initially claiming he was waiting for his grandmother, Sutcliffe said he was an investigator and refused to move from his "perfect position".
Within days Mrs English received a letter, emblazoned with the Australian Federal Police logo and signed by "Risk Officer 34324421234", warning that she had "wrongly interfered" with an AFP investigation.
"The man you spoke to that was parked in your street was a federal agent working on an investigation regarding matters of national security," it read.
The letter said that telling her neighbours of his presence "may have led to ruining months of surveillance and investigation".
It added: “Your actions may have provided suspect parties the information they require to alter their activities and avoid being caught and prosecuted by Police.
"This letter serves as your first and last warning about such matters although if it is found that your actions have led to this investigation being compromised, you will be arrested and charged with obstruction of justice, harbouring of criminals as well as many other offences."
Six weeks later, while watching a current affairs story on Spousebusters, she recognised the man she had spoken to outside her house.
Sutcliffe, 28, pleaded guilty to impersonating a Commonwealth public official and using the postal service to menace, harass or offend.
Magistrate Pat O'Shane said the incident "reeks of immaturity and an overwhelming sense of self-importance".
She adjourned sentencing until August, ordering Sutcliffe into counselling and suggesting he undergo cognitive behaviour therapy.
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We fully support the exposure and prosecution of any private investigator that cheats, lies, steals, behaves like a dumb cowboy or involves in other form of unlawful conduct.
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This guy has now been convicted and sentenced to 12 months prison in NSW. ed.