UK: Ex-cop's cocaine and corruption earns time behind bars

Ex-cop's cocaine and corruption earns time behind bars
BY ROB GIBSON
A former Milton Keynes police officer has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to drug offences including possession of cocaine.
An investigation by the Forces Professional Standards Department (PSD) led to the arrest of 24-year-old Emma Wheatcroft on August 1 last year.
Wheatcroft, of Barbers Mews, Neath Hill, was convicted of offences relating to misconduct in a public office, obtaining personal information from a police computer system, concealing criminal property, money laundering and possession of cocaine.
Miss Wheatcroft resigned from Thames Valley Police while under investigation.
Her then boyfriend, 24-year-old Matthew Nyack, who is also from Milton Keynes, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine, concealing criminal property, money laundering and aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office.
He was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
Following the sentencing Deputy Chief Constable Alex Marshall said: "I'm very pleased with the outcome of this case and it should send a very clear message that Thames Valley Police can and will deal decisively with any criminality within the Force.
"The PSD Operations Team conducted a well managed covert operation which has rid the organisation of a corrupt officer and removed a link with serious crime.
"I am encouraged by the fact that the intelligence which started this operation came from our own staff.
"I am constantly impressed by the professionalism and enthusiasm shown by the overwhelming majority of our people and acutely aware of the potential damage that one or two rogue officers and staff can cause so it is good to see that they will not be tolerated.
"Whilst I believe that the scale of police corruption is very small, we have established methods of obtaining information about police misconduct and have a dedicated team which is tasked with eradicating it totally."