A former Victorian police officer has admitted abusing his position to pursue intimate relationships with vulnerable people, including witnesses of crime.
Brett Johnson, 42, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to 10 offences committed between 2010 and 2019 when he was a Victoria Police officer.
He was previously facing 104 charges, including rape, stalking and assault which were withdrawn by prosecutors.
Johnson, who has since quit the force, admitted engaging in a sexual relationship with the witness of a crime between 2011 and 2017, in a clear conflict of interest, and concealing this information from his supervisors, court documents revealed.
He admitted twice abusing his position as a police officer by pursuing intimate relationships with vulnerable members of the community, one of whom was seeking police assistance.
Johnson also pleaded guilty to seven charges of conducting unauthorised checks on people under the guise of Victoria Police's Law Enforcement Assistance Program.
Asked by magistrate Olivia Trumble how he pleaded to the 10 charges, Johnson stood in the court room and responded: "Guilty, Your Honour."
He will next appear in the County Court on April 5, 2023.
