Ex-police officer gets 19 years in jail for stealing 4kg of cocaine from work to sell in Manchester

A former police officer has been jailed for 19 years for stealing cocaine from work to sell on the streets of Manchester.

Andrew Talbot, who was a detective in Greater Manchester Police’s serious crime division, was found guilty of misconduct in public office and supplying class A drugs last month.

The 54-year-old took almost 4kg of cocaine from an evidence store and searched police systems for dealers to help him sell the drug, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

He was caught when he accidentally dropped a small bag of cocaine outside his daughter’s school.

Talbot, from Leigh in Greater Manchester, supplied the drug between 2018 and 2020.

He previously admitted several other charges including possession of cocaine, possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate, theft of cocaine and unauthorised access to computer material.

Talbot was sacked from GMP in August 2024, which the force said was the earliest legal opportunity.

Jennifer Adams, from GMP’s anti-corruption unit, previously said that Talbot’s actions were “appalling” and “involved him abusing his position of power for his own personal gratification and criminal gains”.

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