Former Victoria Police media chief Stephen Linnell has dodged a jail term for perjury after agreeing to testify against his former top cop mate.
Linnell said little as he walked from the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday with convictions for lying to two secret police hearings.
But the scandal that destroyed his career is not over yet.
He will be testifying against former Victoria Police assistant commissioner Noel Ashby and former police union secretary Paul Mullett, who face similar charges.
The court previously heard Linnell leaked sensitive information about a murder investigation to his mentor and close friend Ashby, and lied about it under oath because he was trying to protect his "mate".
But now Linnell will give evidence against Ashby and Mullett.
Magistrate Peter Couzens said Linnell's decision to turn star crown witness against the pair had earned him a discounted sentence.
The 40-year-old received an eight-month jail term, wholly suspended for two years, and was fined $5,000.
The leaked information related to the 2003 murder of male prostitute and alleged rapist Shane Chartres-Abbott. The investigation was examining whether police were involved in the murder.
Linnell, of Wyndham Vale, then lied about leaking the information when called to give evidence under oath at an Office of Police Integrity (OPI) hearing in 2007.
He also lied to the hearing when he said he had not told police members that he was summonsed to face the secret proceedings.
The court heard Linnell had spoken with Ashby about how he would play a "straight bat" and tell the hearing he could not recall things.
Mr Couzens said he accepted Linnell's "sincere and genuine" remorse, shown in his resignation letter to Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon in which he referred to his "bad judgment" and "lack of respect".
The magistrate said the events bore tragic consequences for the former Age news editor, who was now working at a suburban newspaper.
He said it was unlikely Linnell would ever work for a major newspaper again.
"The price you have paid both professionally and personally for your actions is the price you will continue to pay for the rest of your days," Mr Couzens said.
Linnell pleaded guilty to three counts of perjury and three counts of disclosing confidential information.
He claimed in an earlier hearing to have been manipulated by Ashby in his ambition to become chief commissioner.
Character witnesses said the events had devastated Linnell and turned him into a shattered man.
But Linnell, wearing a black pinstriped suit and white shirt, gave little away about his emotional state during sentencing.
He was flanked by family, including his brother Gary who is the editor of Sydney's Daily Telegraph, and others in the packed courtroom.
Mr Couzens took into account Linnell's early plea, cooperation with authorities and remorse.
Ashby and Mullett face a pre-trial committal hearing in May charged with perjury. They have said they will fight the charges.
Linnell quit his job as media director of Victoria Police in November 2007.
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