Former GMP detective jailed after stealing almost £400k worth of drugs

Andrew Talbot, 54, formerly a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) detective constable, conspired with convicted drug dealer Keith Bretherton, 50, to sell the stolen drugs, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

GMP's anti-corruption investigation into Talbot, from Leigh, began in February 2020 after he dropped a small bag of cocaine outside his daughter’s primary school.

Talbot was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on October 18 (Image: Newsquest) James Lake, prosecuting, said: “Staff members were made aware that a snap bag containing white powder had been found on the footpath. When the school looked at close circuit television they saw that it was Andrew Talbot who had dropped the snap bag.

“Unsurprisingly, given they knew he was a police officer, they contacted the police.”

When Talbot was arrested after arriving for duty at work on February 17 2020, a total of 26.8g of high purity cocaine was found in his coat pocket, 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.

When officers checked drugs which had been seized as part of Operation Cosmetic and another investigation they found just under 4kg of cocaine was missing.

(Image: GMP)

Mr Lake said: “He accepted when he attended the property store he would take pocketfuls, as much as he could fit in his pockets.”

The court heard the drugs had an estimated wholesale value of £140,000 and a retail value of £394,500.

Talbot conducted multiple searches of GMP’s confidential computer systems for known or suspected drug dealers in his area.

Talbot conspired with convicted drug dealer Keith Bretherton (Image: GMP) 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."

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.

Ryan Donoghue, defending Talbot, said there was no evidence Talbot was living a “lavish lifestyle”.

He said: “He did have at the time a long-standing addiction to cocaine.”

Talbot was jailed for 19 years (Image: GMP) The court heard Talbot had served in the police force for 20 years, and had spent three years in the armed forces, but had become 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.

Talbot was found guilty following a trial of supplying a controlled drug of Class A, misconduct in public office and failing to provide the passcode for his phone.

He had 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, also of Leigh pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and was jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

Officers arrested Talbot at his workplace, GMP’s Nexus House, and found him in possession of an ounce of cocaine. Officers searched his car and home and retrieved more cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and evidence to indicate he had been abusing his privileged access to the force’s property storage for criminal purposes.

GMP anti-corruption detectives were determined to bring Talbot to justice for the entity of his crimes and established Talbot stole almost four kilograms of cocaine from police property storage and redistributed it on the streets of Greater Manchester.

As part of our investigation, we closed the property storage at Nexus House for two days to manually examine all drug exhibits believed to have been accessed by Talbot for no apparent policing purpose and identified 12 exhibits that were due to be destroyed had been damaged or tampered with.

We also rigorously reviewed Talbot’s use of police systems, analysing nearly 400,000 lines of data, and determined he had been conspiring with a convicted drug dealer and conducting unlawful searches to further his criminal gains.

His co-conspirator Keith Bretherton, aged 50 from Leigh, was also sentenced today (18 October 2024) to eight-and-a-half years in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and conspiracy, with Talbot, to commit misconduct in public office.

Talbot unlawfully searched police systems for local drug dealers and information to assist Bretherton and his associates with collecting debts; not only through passing on intelligence but also by mentioning his position in the police and threatening to launch a criminal investigation if payment was not made. These actions instilled fear in vulnerable people, particularly a couple who had moved across the country and was tracked down. 

Following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court Talbot was found guilty of supplying a Class A drug, misconduct in public office and failing to comply with a notice under section 49 of the Regulation and Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for refusing to provide the PIN for his mobile phone.

Talbot previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cocaine, possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate, theft of cocaine, conspiracy, two counts of misconduct in public office and a further charge of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

Following his initial admissions in court, we sacked Talbot earlier this year at an accelerated misconduct hearing.

When we suspect our officers or staff have falling below our professional standards or committed a criminal offence, we will rigorously investigate and hold them accountable for the full extent of their wrongdoing.

Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Adams, of our Anti-Corruption Unit, said: “This is one of the most shocking cases of corruption we’ve uncovered, and Talbot will now serve a long sentence behind bars for abusing his role as a police officer.

“He betrayed his oath to serve the public and instead became a criminal; he not only stole drugs that had been taken from the streets, but he also unlawfully used police systems and conspired with a known local drug dealer to add further crime and fear to communities.

“This was a complex and wide-ranging investigation involving a team of detectives who worked tirelessly to bring Talbot to justice for the full extent of his crimes. Whilst cases like this are concerning, they are extremely rare, and our anti-corruption is dedicated to uncovering any criminality within the force.

“There is no place for Talbot or anyone else in police uniform who cannot be trusted to catch criminals and keep our streets safe.

“We will continue to relentlessly root out those who are not fit to represent the thousands of hard-working officers that serve the people of Greater Manchester.”

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said: “I am deeply saddened that a member of our police force sank to the depths that Andrew Talbot did. He has betrayed his oath and the trust of our communities.

“Without the dedication and tenacity of the GMP Anti-Corruption Unit, the full extent of Talbot’s offending would never have been fully understood.

“I am grateful for their consummate professionalism and unwavering dedication and am proud that they represent the vast majority of policing. This is in stark contrast to Andrew Talbot who thankfully represents a very small and uniquely depraved minority.

“Talbot deserves his long prison sentence; not only for the severity of the crimes he committed, but also for the egregious breach of trust and confidence of his colleagues and the wider Greater Manchester community.”