Ex-cop who once held court stenographer hostage pleads guilty to doctoring police certificate

A man responsible for one of the most serious security breaches in the history of South Australia's district courts is facing possible jail time again, after lying about his criminal past.

Wayne Maddeford pleaded guilty to two dishonesty offences after doctoring a National Police Certificate so he could work at the Edinburgh Air Force Base and later the Playford Council.

In 1999 Maddeford, a former police officer, held a knife to the throat of a court stenographer moments after being sentenced to jail for an armed robbery at a major city department store.

It sparked a tense stand-off, with Maddeford holding the woman hostage for two and a half hours before eventually being arrested by heavily armed officers.

A court heard today, the 51-year-old has been a hard-working family man since being released from prison in 2005.

His lawyer, Eugene McGee, told the court, "(there are) ample good reasons for your honour to suspend (the prison sentence)".

But prosecutor Darren Evans disagreed, saying it was "a deliberate and conscious effort to erase the past".

"No penalty other than a period of imprisonment is appropriate," he added.

"(I am) opposed to a suspended sentence and home detention."

Maddeford will learn his fate on Wednesday.