Veteran AFL journalist Mike Sheahan claims he’s known Dean Laidley has liked to dress in women’s clothing for over a decade, but says there was never any grounds for him, or anyone in the media, to report it.

Laidley, 53, was photographed wearing a long blonde wig and a dress after his arrest outside a home in St Kilda on Saturday night.

Two senior Victorian constables this week were suspended over the leaked pictures of Laidley inside a Melbourne police station, with both likely to be charged with accessing police information without authorisation.

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Asked by Hawthorn legend Don Scott on the You Cannot Be Serious podcast whether he’d previously known Laidley enjoyed dressing in women’s clothing — and how long he’d known for — Sheahan said: “Yep … I’m guessing maybe 10 to 12 years.”

Scott then questioned why Sheahan, with that knowledge, didn’t further investigate or write about it when he was a full-time reporter.

Sheahan, the former chief football writer of the Herald Sun, replied: “Why should I have written something about a bloke who’s got a bent about what clothes he wears in private?

“Is that in the public interest in it?”

Sheahan said Laidley’s attire choices were only of interest to the public now because he’d been charged by police and the photos of him had been released.

“It’s sad isn’t it … (but) it’s not about being a cross-dresser, he’s facing serious criminal charges,” Sheahan said.

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“His situation is sad. But the issue about whether he’s a cross-dresser – and it was 10 or 12 years ago – if he’s not breaking any law … why would you write about it? And how is it in the public interest?”

Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Patton said on Monday that six police officers were sent the photos via WhatsApp and they could face charges if it’s found they disseminated them further.

The dissemination of the pictures of Laidley in the station’s interview room was an “appalling” act, Mr Patton said.

Laidley is facing stalking and other charges. He remains in custody until May 11 after not applying for bail.

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights said the behaviour of the officers who distributed the photos was alarming and it was an opportunity for Victoria Police to further support the trans and gender diverse community.

“The act of a police officer secretly taking a photograph of an accused person while the person is in custody is extremely dangerous,” ALHR President Kerry Weste said in a statement.

“It damages trust and confidence in the Victoria Police and it damages the community’s faith in the rule of law.”

— with AAP