A man has narrowly avoided jail time for impersonating a police officer to 'deviously' track down his wife and child at a women’s refuge. On Friday, Ruben Costa, 35, pleaded guilty to impersonating a member of the police force, but was only handed a two-month suspended sentence, according to the NT News. The incident occurred when the Northern Territory man returned home from work to find his wife had left him, taking their son and possessions. Ruben Costa, 35, pleaded guilty to impersonating a member of the police force, but was only handed a two-month suspended sentence . The father pretended to be a police officer investigating a crime over the phone, claiming he needed the assistance of taxi drivers in the area . Costa was unable to contact his wife but, assuming she had left in a taxi, lied about his identity in a conversation with the taxi company to hunt down his spouse. The father pretended to be a police officer investigating a crime over the phone, claiming he needed the assistance of taxi drivers in the area. Prosecutor Marilyn Lester told the Darwin Magistrates Court that Costa told the taxi operator that he was searching for a woman who had abducted a young boy. The taxi company put a call out to all staff and subsequently located Costa’s wife and son at women’s shelter. The incident occurred when the Northern Territory man returned home from work to find his wife had left him, taking their son and possessions (stock pic) When Costa received this information he confronted his wife at the shelter, resulting in an argument. According to Costa’s defence lawyer Peter Orr, Costa has been denied access to his son since the altercation. Orr insisted that Costa’s actions were due to serious worry and concern. Magistrate Cavanagh told the Darwin Magistrates Court that Costa’s actions were ‘devious and dishonest’, according to the NT News. However, he was spared a prison sentence due to his ‘remorse, work ethic and high standing in the community. Prosecutor Marilyn Lester told the Darwin Magistrates Court that Costa told the taxi operator that he was searching for a woman who had abducted a young boy .
Darwin's Ruben Costa impersonated police officer to find his wife and child .
He came home from work to find his wife had left with his young son .
Costa called a taxi company, pretending to be a police officer searching for a woman who had abducted a child .
The taxi company were able to provide Costa with his wife's location .
Costa confronted his wife at the women's refuge where she had fled .
Costa was handed a suspended sentence for his 'devious' actions .