18 October 2024 , 17:17
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Andrew Talbot, 54, took almost £400,000 worth of cocaine from evidence stores before searching police systems for dealers to help him sell the drug.
A former police detective, who was found to have stolen cocaine from an evidence store after dropping a bag of white powder outside his child’s school, has been jailed for 19 years.
Andrew Talbot, who worked for Greater Manchester Police’s serious crime division, was found guilty of misconduct in public office and supplying class A drugs last month.
The 54-year-old took almost 4kg of cocaine with a retail value of almost £400,000 from storage after it had earlier been seized by officers and he searched police systems for dealers to help him sell the drugs, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
Talbot, who had a cocaine addiction, supplied the stolen drugs to criminals and as a result of his "greed a significant quantity" of cocaine was put back into circulation on the streets of Manchester, said the judge.
Talbot was caught when he accidentally dropped a small bag of the drug outside his daughter’s school in February 2020.
The school alerted police, and Talbot was arrested after arriving at work with 26.8g of high purity cocaine, as well as smaller amounts which were lower purity, the court heard.
Snap bags and a piece of paper with exhibit references for Operation Cosmetic, which investigated the nationwide supply of cocaine, were found in his car and three bullets were found at his home in Leigh, Greater Manchester.
James Lake, prosecuting, said: "He accepted when he attended the property store he would take pocketfuls, as much as he could fit in his pockets."
Talbot supplied the drug between 2018 and 2020.
He previously admitted several other charges including possession of cocaine, possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate, theft of cocaine and unauthorised access to computer material.
Talbot was sacked from GMP in August 2024, which the force said was the earliest legal opportunity.
Jennifer Adams, from GMP’s anti-corruption unit, said after the sentencing that it was "one of the most shocking cases of corruption uncovered" by her team.
The drugs Talbot stole in evidence bags. Pic: GMP
"There is no place in policing for Talbot or anyone else like him who cannot be trusted to uphold the law and keep our streets safe," she said.
"We will continue to relentlessly root out those who are not fit to represent the thousands of hardworking officers who serve the people of Greater Manchester.
"He betrayed his oath to serve the public and instead became a criminal."
Sentencing him on Friday, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "As a result of conscientious and dedicated police work, large quantities of Class A drugs were taken off the streets by officers of Greater Manchester Police, many of whom were your colleagues.
"As a result of your addiction and greed a significant quantity of that cocaine was put back into circulation.
"You deceived your colleagues and you betrayed the trust placed in you by them and the community."
The court heard that Talbot conspired with convicted drug dealer Keith Bretherton, 50, to sell the stolen cocaine.
Talbot also provided confidential police information to a friend under investigation for assault and to Bretherton, to help him recover a drug debt worth more than £20,000, the court heard.
Talbot had served in the police force for 20 years, and had spent three years in the armed forces.
He became addicted to cocaine after difficulties in his personal life and due to his role in an operation in which Anthony Grainger was shot by armed police in Culcheth, Cheshire.