Liverpool Crown Court heard Talbot had earlier pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and ammunition without a firearm certificate, stealing cocaine, conspiring with Bretherton to commit misconduct in a public office, misconduct in public office and accessing computer material without authorisation.
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.
Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crime Prosecution Service’s 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.”
Det Ch Insp Jennifer Adams, of GMP’s Anti-Corruption Unit, said: “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.”
