A CROOKED police community support officer (PCSO) helped an escaped prisoner avoid capture for almost a year.

Ogus Batmaz, who worked for the Mottingham and Chislehurst North Safer Neighbourhood Team, helped 34-year-old fugitive Wayne Farrell evade police from July 2009 to May 2010 after he failed to return to prison after day release.

Adding to the tangled web of corruption, Batmaz's colleague, PCSO Nicholas Goodwin, aged 25, of Marion Crescent, Orpington, has denied misconduct in a public office between 2007 and 2010 and will stand trial early next year.

On December 13 Southwark Crown Court heard how Farrell was hiding out at the home he shared with his girlfriend Emma Tooke, of Crown Lane, Bromley, while using data to stay ahead of the authorities which former PSCO Batmaz had stolen from police computers.

Farrell, of Quilters Place, Eastnor Road, in New Eltham, had denied conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office but changed his plea to guilty at Southwark Crown Court.

Tooke, aged 33, admitted harbouring an escaped prisoner and was warned she too faces a jail term.

Judge Andrew Goymer said: "Harbouring a prisoner at large is always a serious offence.
"Even though you are of previous good character, you must expect to receive a prison sentence.'"

Batmaz, aged 26, of Acacia Way, in Sidcup, Kent, has already admitted accessing police computers over three years from July 2007 on behalf of gang members.

The PCSO has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office between July 2007 and June 2010 and conspiracy to steal between July 2009 and June 2010.

Batmaz also admits misconduct in a public office between July 2009 and May 2010, and conspiracy to supply cocaine between January and June 2010.

He pleaded not guilty to a further charge of conspiracy to supply cannabis during the same period, which will lie on file.

Seven other men from north Kent and south east London were charged as part of an investigation by the Met Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards and will stand trial next year along with Tooke, Farrell and Goodwin.

The first trial of Goodwin and five others will start in January 14 next year looking at allegations relating to misconduct and is expected to last up to eight weeks.

A second trial, involving three men, focusing on allegations of supplying cocaine and cannabis will take place after the first one has concluded.

Farrell was remanded in custody while Tooke was bailed until the sentencing hearing and both will be will be sentenced at the conclusion of both trials.