Former NSW mayor given community penalty

Former Ryde mayor Ivan Petch has been sentenced to a community penalty for trying to blackmail a senior colleague over a legal costs issue.

The then 79-year-old was found guilty in October of making an unwarranted demand with menaces with the intention of influencing the exercise of public duty while working as City of Ryde mayor in May 2013 in suburban Sydney.

Petch was accused of telling the then-acting council general manager Danielle Dickson to settle a court costs case in a way favourable to him as she would need his help to permanently retain her position.

She later reported the incident to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

In the District Court on Monday, Judge Nicole Noman sentenced Petch to two years imprisonment, to be served in the community by way of an intensive correction order which is subject to various conditions.