In a shocking case of police corruption, a former Greater Manchester Police detective has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for stealing nearly £400,000 worth of cocaine from an evidence storage facility. 54-year-old Andrew Talbot, who was addicted to cocaine himself, conspired with a convicted drug dealer to sell the stolen drugs back onto the streets.
Deception and Betrayal
The investigation into Talbot’s misconduct began in February 2020 when he accidentally dropped a small bag of cocaine outside his daughter’s primary school. Surveillance footage captured the incident, prompting school officials to report it to the police. When Talbot arrived for duty, officers found him in possession of 26.8 grams of high-purity cocaine, along with smaller amounts of lower-purity drugs.
Further investigations revealed that Talbot had been stealing drugs from the police evidence store, taking as much as he could fit in his pockets each time he visited. In total, nearly 4 kilograms of cocaine went missing from two major drug investigations. The stolen drugs had an estimated wholesale value of £140,000 and a staggering retail value of £394,500.
“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.”
– Judge Neil Flewitt KC
Abuse of Power
Talbot’s corruption went beyond stealing drugs. He also used his access to confidential police computer systems to conduct searches on known or suspected drug dealers in his area. Furthermore, he provided sensitive police information to a friend under investigation for assault and to his co-conspirator, Keith Bretherton, to help recover a drug debt of more than £20,000.
Prosecutors noted that while there was no evidence of Talbot living a lavish lifestyle, his actions were driven by his longstanding addiction to cocaine. The former detective’s struggles with addiction were attributed to personal difficulties and his involvement in a police operation where a suspect was shot by armed officers.
Justice Served
After a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Talbot was found guilty of:
- Supplying a controlled class A drug
- Misconduct in public office
- Failing to provide the passcode for his phone
He had previously pleaded guilty to additional charges, including possession of cocaine, possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate, theft of cocaine, conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, and unauthorized access to computer material.
Keith Bretherton, Talbot’s 50-year-old accomplice, also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. He was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison for his role in the scheme.
“This is one of the most shocking cases of corruption uncovered by Greater Manchester Police’s anti-corruption unit. Whilst cases like this are concerning, they are also extremely rare. 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.”
– DCI Jennifer Adams, GMP Anti-Corruption Unit
The case of Andrew Talbot serves as a stark reminder that even those entrusted with upholding the law are not immune to the temptations of greed and the devastating effects of drug addiction. As the Greater Manchester Police work to restore public trust, this case underscores the importance of robust internal oversight and the tireless efforts of anti-corruption units in rooting out misconduct within law enforcement ranks.
