BEXLEYHEATH & CATFORD: Police officer gave drug dealer information for cocaine (From News Shopper)

BEXLEYHEATH & CATFORD: Police officer gave drug dealer information for cocaine

4:52pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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A FORMER policeman has been jailed for three years after passing information to a drug dealer in exchange for a supply of cocaine for his drug-addicted wife.

Mark Bohannan, a 47-year-old former field intelligence officer based in Catford with the Met Police's Territorial Support Group, made 475 checks on police computers over a period of six years for his wife Denise's drug dealer.

As he and his wife were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court today (Mar 12), Mrs Bohannan mouthed to her husband "You're dead" while a relative in the public gallery swore at the judge.

The court had heard that through his contact with Mark Bohannan, drug dealer Syed Ahmed learned information police held on him and his associates.

He was told about which areas the Territorial Support Group would be investigating and on one occasion was informed of an upcoming raid.

Mr Ahmed was also able to discover which of his associates were passing information to the police, the court heard.

Mrs Bohannan, who lived with her husband in Chapel Road, Bexleyheath, was given free cocaine in exchange for the information and on some occasions money changed hands.

The couple were both found guilty of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office following a six-week trial.

Mr Bohannan's lawyer, Michael Bromley-Martin, admitted the former officer's conduct "involved a gross breach of the trust placed in him as a police officer".

But he claimed that towards the end, Mr Bohannan had been working to bring the dealer to justice.

The court heard Mrs Bohannan had been using drugs since 1997 after her mother died and was "vulnerable".

Her lawyer, Laurence Kench, said: "Mr Ahmed was manipulative, he was bullying and he was quite happy to callously take advantage of anyone that he thought could assist him in furthuring his own aims."

Former dancer Mrs Bohannan, aged 56, who came to court with shocking pink highlights in her hair, was given an 18-month jail term.

Sentencing the couple, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said Mr Bohannan's misconduct had been "appalling".

He told him: "What's quite clear is that you did this because she wanted you to and you were weak enough to give in to her wishes."

The judge added: "Instead of bringing an active and successful drug dealer to justice, you did what you could to help him."