Victoria ex-cop avoids jail for ramming and assaulting innocent man

A former police officer has avoided jail after lying to his colleagues about ramming an innocent motorist before assaulting him in the victim’s driveway.

Former senior constable Kieran John Atkins was caught on camera ramming Anthony Vittori’s car in the Melbourne suburb of Hillside in August 2013.

The police car’s camera was switched off for three minutes while the former officer physically attacked Mr Vittori, who was afterwards unlawfully arrested and imprisoned for four hours.

The officer then covered up the incident and lied to colleagues, exposed only when accompanying officer Constable Brennan Roberts came forward with what happened.

The two officers had conspired and agreed to tell their sergeant that Mr Vittori had deliberately veered into them twice.

The victim told 9NEWS the incident had been a traumatic experience.

“I think it’s pathetic, he’s got a gun and a badge and does something like that,” Mr Vittori said.

“People need to be held responsible for their actions.”

The 32-year-old Atkins was sentenced to four months’ jail wholly suspended, and fined $7000.