Senior cop dropped a bag of cocaine outside his daughter's school... his 'appalling' crimes were then revealed

A Greater Manchester Police detective who stole drugs from the evidence store at work and supplied it onto the streets of Manchester was eventually caught out after dropping a bag of cocaine outside his daughter's school.

Disgraced cop Andrew Talbot, who was previously a detective working within the force’s serious crime division, stole just under four kilos of cocaine from the GMP property store, before then supplying it between February 2018 and January 2020.

He also searched the force's confidential computer systems for known or suspected drug dealers to help him shift the drugs and provided information to a friend who was under investigation for assault, a court heard.

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Talbot, from Leigh, also conspired with a convicted drug dealer, Keith Bretherton, and used his position as a police officer to give him confidential force information to help him to recover a drug debt worth more than £20,000, the CPS said.

The major police investigation into Talbot by GMP’s anti-corruption unit first began after he dropped a small bag of cocaine outside his daughter’s primary school on February 13 2020.

When searched at work, he was later found with more cocaine, with his car containing a piece of paper with the property number for two police operations into the supply of the drug. A further search of his home then revealed drug paraphernalia and a GMP property bag containing traces of cocaine.

Talbot refused to give his PIN number for his mobile phone, however detectives were able to recover some of the photographs from the device, which included pictures of the cocaine and exhibit bags on days when he accessed the property store. He also worked closely with Bretherton, 50, who provided one of a number of outlets for the stolen drugs.

Searches for known or suspected drug dealers were also regularly conducted by Talbot on GMP’s computer systems. He denied these searches were for supply outlets and argued they related to his work or were made out of professional curiosity.

During the trial, the prosecution was able to prove that Talbot supplied the drugs he stole, and that the cocaine was not just for personal use as he claimed. The prosecution also proved that Talbot attempted to frustrate the investigation by providing an incorrect passcode for his phone after receiving a formal notice to disclose it.

The detective was previously sacked from GMP, at an accelerated misconduct hearing in August 2024. In November last year, Talbot 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.

And following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, on Wednesday (September 25), Talbot was found guilty 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 and Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

While Bretherton pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and conspiracy, with Talbot, to commit misconduct in public office. Both men will be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on October 18.

Rosemary Ainslie, Head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “Andrew Talbot brazenly abused his position as a police officer for many years. Not only did he steal drugs from Greater Manchester Police’s own evidence store, he then shamelessly supplied those drugs on the streets of the city he was entrusted to police.

“His disgraceful criminal conduct and association with convicted drug dealer Keith Bretherton are in stark contrast to his duties as an officer to protect the public, and risk undermining public confidence in policing. I hope this conviction serves as a reminder that no-one is above the law and that all offenders will be held accountable.”

Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Adams, of Greater Manchester Police’s Anti-Corruption Unit, said: “Our tenacious investigation into Andrew Talbot uncovered the appalling extent of his criminality, which involved him abusing his position of power for his own personal gratification and criminal gains.

“Through our investigation, it became clear Talbot had stolen a significant amount of Class A drugs from evidence and was redistributing these drugs back into the streets of Greater Manchester.

“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.

“This was a lengthy and detailed investigation demonstrating the diligence of the officers in our Anti-Corruption Unit, and this case sends a strong message about the expectations we have for serving police officers. We know the vast majority of officers are dedicated and compassionate professionals, but we have no tolerance for anyone like Talbot who is not fit to serve the people of Greater Manchester."