Ex-Cop Jonathan Bettles Assaulted Woman, Leaving Her Terrified
A former police officer faces justice after a series of violent assaults on a woman over two years, leaving her feeling helpless and scared.
Sydney, Australia, Jonathan Bettles, Assault, Police, Domestic Violence
Sydney: A woman endured a nightmare at the hands of Jonathan Bettles, a former senior constable. She was punched, stomped on, and even pushed into a wall. It was so bad that she felt too scared to call for help, thinking all police would act like him.
Between August 2019 and August 2021, Bettles abused her ten times at her home, her workplace, and even in his car. He hit her in the head and jaw, stomped on her foot, and forced his way into her bedroom, slamming her against the wall.
At one point, he knocked her out, and when she came to, he was panicking, urging her to get up. This all came to light when he pleaded guilty to 13 charges, including common assault and perverting the course of justice.
Bettles misused his position in the police to intimidate her, making her feel like she couldn’t report him. He would say things like, “I know how the system works,” which made her feel trapped.
She knew it was wrong but felt powerless. He even suggested they move out of Sydney for his job, but she was too scared. She texted him, “What if you hit me one day, I die from it.”
Though he expressed regret through texts, saying he felt “sick” about his actions, the violence never stopped. He would punch her, pour Coke on her, and even destroy her belongings.
One time, after he ruined her expensive makeup set, she finally called for help. But he grabbed her phone and hung up. When she did manage to speak to the police, he told her to lie about what happened.
She ended up telling officers she had an argument with “John Smith.” Instead of taking responsibility, he tried to shift the blame, saying they needed to stop being “s*** to each other.”
She documented her injuries over the years, and those photos will be shown in court during his sentencing hearing. Bettles is no longer with the NSW Police, but the scars of his actions remain.