Two NSW Police Officers are looking at a possible two years in prison for unlawfully disclosing information. According to News.com.au, Garrick Jacobson was told by Police while in custody at Sydney’s Surry Hills station that his girlfriend was actually a transgender woman. When he got out on bail he went around to her house and seriously assaulted her.

Constables Tyrone Stacey and Brendan Ritson have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Back in September 2006 26 year old Jacobson was arrested under suspicion of theft. Constable Stacey looked up information on his girlfriend Brigitte Fell and discovered that her gender was actually male.

Constable Ritson saw the screen and yelled out to Jacobson, “You’re rooting a bloke.” When he refused to believe it the Police actually showed him written proof, saying, “See, it’s a guy.”

Brigitte Fell told the court that the carelessness of the Police ruined her life. She had the gender reassignment surgery twelve years ago in London and many had told her that it was “the best sex change [they’d] ever seen.” Fell kept her transgender status a secret because she was worried about her boyfriend’s temper.

She had good cause to be concerned. When he was released from Police custody he showed up at her house, banging on her door, threatening to kill her.

Fell said that Jacobson allegedly yelled, “Your fucking mates the cops told me you’re a man – is it true?” He punched her a number of times in the face, giving her concussion. She fell from the balcony of her loft bedroom and awoke covered in blood, her face broken.

Fell had only told a couple of people close to her about her surgery, but Police knew about it because she’d gone to them before for other matters. The hearing continues at Sydney’s Downing Centre Court.