Ex-detective jailed after dropping cocaine outside daughter’s school and supplying £400k drugs to criminal

Andrew Talbot, 54, conspired with convicted drug dealer Keith Bretherton, 50, to sell the stolen drugs, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

During sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC condemned Talbot's actions, saying: “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 investigation began in February 2020 when Talbot dropped a small bag of cocaine outside his daughter’s primary school.

Prosecutor James Lake 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.”

After being arrested at work, Talbot was found with 26.8 grams of high-purity cocaine in his coat pocket and smaller amounts of lower-purity drugs. Officers discovered that nearly 4 kilograms of cocaine, valued at £140,000 wholesale and £394,500 retail, was missing from police evidence linked to two investigations. Talbot admitted to taking “pocketfuls” of the drug whenever he accessed the property store.

The court also heard that Talbot accessed confidential police databases to gather information on known or suspected drug dealers and provided sensitive information to Bretherton, aiding him in recovering a drug debt worth over £20,000. The judge said: “Although it is unclear exactly how Andrew Talbot disposed of the stolen cocaine, I have no doubt that he sold it to criminals who, in turn, cut it and sold it on the streets.”

Talbot, who had a 20-year career in the police and previously served in the armed forces, struggled with a long-standing cocaine addiction exacerbated by personal issues and his involvement in an operation where Anthony Grainger was fatally shot by police. Defence lawyer Ryan Donoghue argued that there was no evidence of a "lavish lifestyle," attributing Talbot’s criminal actions to his addiction.

The disgraced detective was found guilty of supplying a controlled drug, misconduct in public office, and failing to provide his phone passcode. He had previously pleaded guilty to additional charges, including possession of cocaine, theft of the drug, possession of ammunition, conspiracy to commit misconduct, and unauthorised access to computer material.

Bretherton, also from Leigh, Greater Manchester, 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.

Detective Inspector Dave Egan, who led the investigation, described the case as involving “brutal and savage” breaches of public trust.