NSW cop's shoplifting charges dropped

A senior NSW police officer accused of stealing cheese, rat poison and chocolate bars will have his charges dismissed after a magistrate found he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at the time.

Chief Inspector Damon Cox was charged with larceny and corruptly receiving a benefit in May.

The charges related to the alleged theft of a packet of cheese, four cubes of rat poison and two chocolate bars from an IGA in the Blue Mountains town of Blaxland whilst off duty.

It was also alleged he had attempted to use his position as a police officer to convince workers not to report him.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Jane Culver told a Downing Centre Local Court sentencing on Tuesday that it was "simply strange" that Cox, who was 48 and without prior convictions when he was charged, found "himself within a store so clearly shoplifting".

She said Cox had expressed remorse, shame and confusion upon arrest and there was a "compelling diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder in existence at the time of the offences."

Ms Culver said Cox had been exposed to numerous traumatic events during a long police career and granted an application to have the charges dealt with under the Mental Health Act.

Both charges will be dismissed upon Cox entering mental health treatment.