Manchester detective found guilty after stealing cocaine and giving it to dealers

A detective who stole almost 4kg of cocaine from the police evidence store at work and supplied it on the streets of Manchester has been convicted of multiple offences.

Andrew Talbot, who worked in the serious crime division of Greater Manchester police (GMP), conducted searches of the force’s confidential computer systems for known or suspected drug dealers to help him sell the drugs, which he supplied between February 2018 and January 2020.

The 54-year-old was found guilty at Liverpool crown court on Wednesday of supplying a controlled drug of class A, misconduct in public office and failing to comply with a notice under section 49 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

An investigation into Talbot began after he dropped a small bag of cocaine outside his daughter’s primary school on 13 February 2020. He was subsequently searched at work and found to have more cocaine on him. His car contained a piece of paper with exhibit references and the property number for two successful GMP operations into the supply of the drug.

A search of his home revealed drug paraphernalia and a GMP property bag containing traces of cocaine. When the spoils of two successful seizures of the drug were weighted at the property store, significant quantities were found to be missing from both.

Although Talbot provided an incorrect pin for his mobile phone after receiving a formal notice to disclose it, police were able to recover pictures of the cocaine and exhibit bags on days when he accessed the property store.

Talbot worked closely with a convicted drug dealer, Keith Bretherton, who provided one of a number of outlets for the stolen drugs. He also used his position as a police officer to give confidential police information to help Bretherton recover a drug debt worth more than £20,000.

Talbot, who had claimed the cocaine was for personal use, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cocaine, possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate, theft of cocaine, conspiracy, with Bretherton, to commit misconduct in public office, a further count of misconduct in public office and unauthorised access to computer material.

Bretherton, 50, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and conspiracy, with Talbot, to commit misconduct in public office.

The pair, both from Leigh, Greater Manchester, will be sentenced on 18 October.

DCI Jennifer Adams, of GMP’s anti-corruption unit, said: “Talbot took an oath to be a police officer and to serve the public, but instead began to abuse this position to enter a world of criminality. This is why he was sacked at the earliest legal opportunity back in August and why we worked with the CPS to build a strong prosecution case to ensure he is brought to justice for the full scale of his offending.”