A 25-YEAR-OLD Hobart police officer who was shot at from a moving car says her uniform makes her feel like a target, the Supreme Court in Hobart has heard.
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Constable Holly Dillon was preparing to intercept a vehicle on the Brooker Highway at the intersection of Risdon Road at 2.45am on May 13 when Rodney Gene Crosswell leaned out of the vehicle and fired a shot from a sawn-off shotgun in her direction.
Crosswell, 27, of Kingston, has pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and to other offences committed during May, including an armed robbery of the Claremont Newsagency.
In her victim impact statement read by prosecutor Linda Mason to the court yesterday, Constable Dillon said she suffers from nightmares, sleeplessness and anxiety as a result of the incident.
"I find it hard to relax in public and constantly think about how I could escape or protect myself if someone were to come to me with a shotgun," she said in the statement.
Constable Dillon said she now works in an administrative area of Tasmania Police where she does not deal with the public, but a role in which she wears full police uniform.
"Each time I put it on I feel like a target," she said.
She said she is afraid to wear the uniform in public, something that frustrates her.
"I initially joined to help people, not hide from them ... I have been proud of my uniform and my job."
Ms Mason said Crosswell had threatened another officer when being taken to his cell, saying: "As soon as I get out of here one of you is going to die. I'll shoot you dogs one day and that slut should have died."
Crosswell has also pleaded guilty to charges of stealing, robbery, aggravated assault, unlawfully setting fire to property and perverting the course of justice.
His lawyer, Kim Baumeler, said Crosswell had a history of drug problems, that he was sorry for his conduct and was now attempting to address the issues he has.
Crosswell is expected to be sentenced on November 16.