Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs A senior NSW police inspector who downed 20 drinks before crashing his work car in Sydney’s NorthConnex tunnel and fleeing the scene has been sentenced.“Inspector AB”, as the courts have dubbed him after his name was suppressed, covered his face as he entered Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, to face sentencing for one count of mid-range drink-driving.Magistrate Rachael Wong said it was “too serious” to be dealt with through a non-conviction.“This is an offender who is unlikely to reoffend,” Wong said.She gave him a community corrections order for two years and fined AB $1500. His licence was disqualified for six months.The court heard AB decided to get into his unmarked police and make the two-hour drive home despite having consumed 20 standard drinks during a night out in Sydney’s CBD in May 2023.A NSW police inspector has been sentenced after crashing his police-issued car on the NorthConnex.Credit: Peter RaeCCTV captured his white police-issued Kia swerving across lanes in the NorthConnex tunnel before crashing into a barrier just before 2am.AB then drove the damaged car to a nearby street and abandoned the vehicle, calling his wife to come pick him up, the court heard.His choice to abandon the car meant police could not breath test him.“Some people simply get caught and say ‘you got me, I had a crash’,” prosecutors said.“That didn’t happen… There must have been an awareness of intoxication.”AB had his name suppressed by a Local Court magistrate shortly after his arrest, because of secret evidence which the media and public were forbidden from hearing.But the Herald can reveal the inspector was posting selfies, family photos and personal details openly on social media – just months before his lawyers told the courts any publication of his identity could put his life at risk.The account included selfies, names and photographs of family members and readily identifiable locations.The suppression order has caused significant disquiet among both senior and rank-and-file officers who have complained it gives the appearance of special treatment to a senior member of the force.AB remains in the police force, his $180,000 salary reduced to about $130,000, the court heard, and he had kept his licence throughout the lengthy court case.He did not disclose any alcohol use in the crash and said he “fell asleep” in an insurance claim submitted through official NSW Police systems.Last July the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, which oversees investigations into allegations of police misconduct, concluded AB was “deliberately dishonest” in the claim and deliberately left the crash scene
