Ex-police inspector Matthew Dennis given home detention for lying to PIC about drug use

In October 2010, Matthew Mark Dennis, a former duty officer at the Hunter Valley Local Area Command, was secretly filmed by commission investigators taking ecstasy during a three-day trip to the Gold Coast.

"Have you had your pill? Go and grab one if you haven't had one," a police superintendent and friend of Dennis was recorded as telling him.

"I just had one, put it in me gullet," Dennis replied.

When Dennis was hauled before the commission the following year as part of its investigation into drug use and drug supply in the NSW Police Force, he denied that he or his colleagues had ever taken drugs.

After being shown the footage, he was forced to admit his evidence was wrong and he subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of knowingly giving misleading evidence before the commission.

He was subsequently dismissed from the force.

On August 29, magistrate Lisa Stapleton sentenced Dennis to a two nine-month custodial sentences but gave him the opportunity to be assessed for suitability for home detention rather than jail.

This was, in part, because of the officer's ongoing mental health problems, including depression, and post traumatic stress disorder sustained during his work in the force.

On Friday, the Downing Centre Local Court heard that Dennis was found to be suitable for home detention, and Ms Stapleton ordered that he serve a minimum non-parole period of nine months with a maximum of 18 months.

Ms Stapleton ordered that he wear an electronic monitoring bracelet at all times and be subject to frequent, random visits by monitoring officers and urine analysis.

He will be forbidden from leaving his home other than for approved medical visits, approved exercise and approved parental responsibilities.

"Should you breach the home detention order, it may result with you serving time in custody," Ms Stapleton said.