Police officer Anthony Scott Dark walks from the Maroochydore Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle in Nambour on the morning of August 1 last year. Photo: Nicola Brander/ Sunshine Coast Daily.

Police officer Anthony Scott Dark walks from the Maroochydore Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle in Nambour on the morning of August 1 last year. Photo: Nicola Brander/ Sunshine Coast Daily. Nicola Brander

A SUNSHINE Coast police officer has been fined $2000 for driving his four-wheel-drive in close pursuit of a 13-year-old boy who was riding a motorcycle.

Anthony Scott Dark (pictured), 44, enlisted the counsel of high-profile defence barrister Adrian Braithwaite for yesterday's sentence, handed down in Maroochydore Magistrates Court.

Some of Mr Braithwaite's previous clients have included honeymoon killer Gabe Watson and former Transport and Main Roads boss Michael Caltabiano.

Dark pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle in Nambour on the morning of August 1 last year.

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant David Bradley said Dark was off duty and his daughter was a passenger when he saw the boy riding a mini trail bike on Spring Myrtle Ave.

Snr Sgt Bradley said Dark followed the boy closely at speeds of 50kmh to 60kmh until the boy stopped, when Dark identified himself as a police officer.

The boy then fled, with Dark driving behind him very closely at a speed of about 60kmh.

The chase ended when the boy stopped in the front yard of a Kearns Ct home.

That section of the chase was filmed by a member of the public and the footage played to the court.

A collision occurred and the motorcycle ended up wedged under Dark's four-wheel-drive.

Snr Sgt Bradley highlighted the boy was unskilled to be driving on a public road and had poor judgement.

He said being chased closely at those speeds would have been "terrifying".

"The pursuit was persistent and relatively protracted with several points where it could have and should have stopped," Snr Sgt Bradley said.

He said Dark showed a "come what may" attitude in regards to the boy's safety.

Mr Braithwaite said his client had been suspended without pay shortly after the incident and had been working for $400 a week as a scaffolder.

He said the matter would be the subject of Queensland Police Service disciplinary proceedings.

Dark was fined $2000 and disqualified from driving for six months.

No conviction was recorded.