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A PROTECTIVE Services Officer accessed and sent personal details of his brother's old flame "for a laugh", police documents reveal. Lachlan Worn, 24, committed the security breach by taking and sending a photo on his mobile phone of private information displayed on a police database. Police prosecution documents obtained by The Courier state Worn and a colleague were on duty at Ballarat Railway Station on July 21 when a woman known to Worn appeared to take a photo of him. Back at the police pod at the railway station, Worn's colleague logged into the police database to conduct checks on individuals they had spoken to. After asking his colleague to search the woman, police documents state Worn took a photo of her personal details, telling the officer he was only "sending it to his brother for a laugh". Worn's colleague challenged him, suggesting it was inappropriate, and later reported the security breach to police. Worn was interviewed on July 22 and made to surrender his phone, where the picture of the private information was saved. The documents state the contents of Worn's phone were downloaded by a member of the Divisional Intelligence Unit and the accused was stood down for the remainder of his shift. Worn pleaded guilty to disclosing information when not authorised to do so at Ballarat Magistrates Court on March 19. Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt was satisfied Worn's actions were not sinister or calculated, but ordered him to resign from his position. "It does show a foolish failure to understand and comply with regulations in respect to accessing this private data," he said. Mr Klestadt accepted Worn would be suitable for diversion, suggesting a court record for this offence would be unfair. Worn, who was placed on a six-month diversion plan, was ordered to pay $500 to the Magistrates Court fund and write a letter of apology to the victim.

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