Ex-NSW cop behind bars for lying

A former NSW policeman has been sentenced to 13 months in prison for misleading the Police Integrity Commission over an alleged drug-fuelled weekend with fellow officers.

Robert John Reid, 45, was found guilty this year on three counts of giving false or misleading evidence at a hearing before the police watchdog in October 2011.

At the commission, Reid was quizzed about an alleged weekend bender he and former and serving officers held in Queensland in 2010.

Magistrate Peter Barnett sentenced Reid on Monday to 13 months in prison with a non-parole period of seven months.

"These commissions cannot function unless they are provided accurate evidence into that which they inquire," Mr Barnett said.

"He knew what he was going to be asked about."

Reid, who was surrounded by his family in court, said little as the judgment was handed down.

The former officer told the commission in October 2011 he did not remember whether anyone else ate hash cookies or took ecstasy or cocaine during the weekend.

He also denied supplying illicit drugs for the Gold Coast jaunt, saying another of his "mates" had been responsible for the hash cookies.

The court heard Reid, a police officer for 10 years, had sought the company of his former workmates and may have misled the commission out of a misguided sense of loyalty.

Mr Barnett said while that line of thinking had a degree of resonance with the court, it did not mitigate the offence.

He said Reid - described in court at one point as a "pest" when he drank and a functioning alcoholic - will likely need to seek help when his sentence ends.

The judge acknowledged Reid would have to spend some of his sentence in protective custody because of his 10 years in the police force.

He is due for parole in April 2015.