The highly regarded policeman had been told earlier in the day by his supervisor at Traralgon to drive to Melbourne to undertake various administrative duties.
Leading Senior Constable Steven Owen. Credit: jason South. Melbourne Magistrates Court heard yesterday that booking a one-hour lunchtime session with "Pamela" at Harem definitely was not one of those duties. Prosecutor Vivianne Morkos said Owen, 45, made the appointment under a false name while driving from Traralgon and entered Harem about 1pm on March 5 after parking his marked police car nearby.
Ms Morkos told the court he was in full uniform and wearing his police-issue equipment belt containing handgun, capsicum spray and baton. Having paid, Owen was led by Pamela to room 1, where she told him the services would not start unless the gun was removed from the room.
Ms Morkos said: "The prostitute advised Owen that there is a room in reception where the handgun could be locked away for the duration of the session.
Ms Morkos told magistrate Peter Reardon that the prostitute carried the items downstairs, but she felt so uncomfortable handling them that a colleague took possession of them.
