A former Greater Manchester detective constable got caught with his hands in the cocaine bag – literally dropping nearly 4kg of the drug outside his daughter’s primary school. Now Andrew Talbot faces a huge repayment bill or he’ll be back behind bars.
Cop’s Cocaine Drop Sparks Drug Heist Scandal
Andrew Talbot, 55, bungled his drug theft in February 2020 when he accidentally dropped a bag stuffed with almost 4kg of cocaine outside his daughter’s school. The court revealed Talbot, battling his own cocaine addiction, swiped the stash right from police evidence stores.
He then linked up with jailed drug dealer Keith Bretherton to sell the haul on the streets of Greater Manchester.
Judge Slams Talbot’s Ultimate Betrayal
Judge Neil Flewitt KC at Liverpool Crown Court wasn’t having any of it, handing Talbot a whopping 19 years behind bars. “You deceived your colleagues and betrayed the trust placed in you by them and the community,” the judge roared.
The drugs were worth a cool £140,000 wholesale and nearly £395,000 retail.
£75k Payback Deadline or More Jail
At a recent proceeds of crime hearing, police revealed Talbot made £179,372 from his corrupt crime spree. He now faces a £75,420 payback bill within three months – or risk an extra two years in prison.
Detective Inspector John Andrew of GMP said: “Talbot is already paying for his crimes by losing his livelihood and liberty. Now he must pay financially. This sends a clear message: corrupt officers will be brought to justice and cannot profit at the expense of colleagues and the public.”
Helen Hughes from the Crown Prosecution Service added: “Andrew Talbot abused his position as a police detective. He stole drugs from GMP’s property store and sold them in the very city he vowed to protect. It is right he should not benefit from his crimes.”
