Merseyside police officers jailed over cannabis plot

Three Merseyside police officers have been jailed for a total of 14 years after being convicted for plotting to supply £75,000-worth of cannabis that was seized in raids.

Former PC Clive French, 33, of Lexington Drive, Southport was imprisoned for six years, and Sgt Darren Burns, 32, of Ash Street was sentenced to four years by a judges at Liverpool Crown Court.

Two other men were also jailed. PC Andrew Bird, of Walton, Liverpool, was handed a four year term. A civillian, John Brennan, also from Walton, was jailed for three years.

PC French, had denied being part of a plot to sell cannabis that had been seized in drug raids but was unanimously convicted after a trial last month.

During a two-week hearing, Anthony Cross, QC, prosecuting, told how on 15th May last year, French helped remove seized drugs in Shrewton Road, Gateacre.

Six bin bags of cannabis were then taken to Brennan's home to be sold on.

PC Bird, of Whitewood Park, Aintree, and Sgt Burns, of Ash Street, Southport, both pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to supply cannabis.

After the sentencing Merseyside Deputy Chief Constable Bernard Lawson said: "The public quite rightly have high expectations of police officers and Merseyside Police is committed to meeting those expectations. We demand high standards of professionalism and integrity from all staff.

"The behaviour of the officers involved in this incident is completely unacceptable and serves to undermine the public's confidence and trust in the police. We are quite clear, no officer is above the law. If any officer is found to be behaving in a way that does not meet our high standards we will take swift and robust action.

"For this reason Merseyside Police will not tolerate such criminal behaviour. These officers have let down their colleagues whom day in, day out, provide a professional and quality service to members of communities across Merseyside.

"Today's sentencing sends out a clear message to both members of the public and our own police staff and shows that Merseyside Police is committed to providing the public with a professional service and we will not tolerate any abuse of office."

by Tony McConville
Source: http://www.clickliverpool.com/news/local-news/128040-liverpool-cannabis-plot-three-police-offiicers-jailed.html