Cops accused of sharing new pictures of AFL great Dani Laidley

A secretly-taken photo of Dani Laidley has allegedly been shared among police officers just six months after cops were ordered to pay the AFL great compensation for leaking photos of her in custody. 

A group of Victoria Police officers reportedly shared a picture of the 54-year-old on a day out at Geelong Racecourse for the Ballan Cup on Saturday.

The force said it was not investigating the image as it had not received any specific complaints about the officers involved.

Laidley was seen talking with friends including Anthony Stevens, his former teammate at North Melbourne, The Herald Sun reported. 

The image emerged after 11 officers were sanctioned for sharing Laidley’s police file photo and another of her in a police interview room after her arrest for stalking last May.

Victoria Police’s internal discipline board ordered 11 officers, ranging in rank from constable to sergeant, to pay up to $3,000 to Laidley out of their own pockets.

A police spokesman said the force ‘had not received any details of the members allegedly involved’ in the latest alleged photo swap.

‘Victoria Police is unaware of the origin of the photo or any corresponding messages allegedly made by employees,’ a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.

‘If anyone has any complaints about police misconduct, we strongly encourage them to contact Professional Standards Command or via IBAC so it can be investigated.’  

Laidley pictured left. Eleven Victoria Police officers have been ordered to pay up to $3,000 to the 54-year-old out of their own pockets after photos of him in police custody were shared among officers

Laidley earlier this year launched civil action in Victoria’s Supreme Court against the force, alleging officers sought to expose her to ‘humiliation and ridicule’ by circulating her images in custody.

Court documents allege a detective shared Laidley’s mug shot in a police WhatsApp group and described her as a ‘full blown tranny’ and ‘dressing like a tranny’.

Laidley alleges police breached their duty of care and is seeking ‘aggravated and exemplary’ damages for being ‘brought into public ridicule and contempt’.

Laidley (pictured in 2002) was a 1996 premiership player for North Melbourne and coached the Kangaroos from 2003 to 2009

She was arrested last year for stalking a woman.

But in November she was spared a conviction and placed on an adjourned undertaking instead.

Mr Patton told 774 Melbourne they intend to resolve the case swiftly.

‘We have done the wrong thing,’ he said. 

‘It was a breach of Dani’s human rights, it’s inappropriate conduct, it’s not acceptable.’  

Laidley was a 1996 premiership player for North Melbourne and coached the Kangaroos from 2003 to 2009. 

A court sketch of the former AFL player and coach during a bail hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court on May 11,  2020