Top Hull detective jailed after socialising with drug dealers

Former detective Andrew Thomas Watts, 27, who worked for Humberside Police, once had the highest arrest rate for an officer in Hull, before his illicit behaviour began.

But Watts, who accessed the Criminal Investigation Department's database to read intelligence reports on five of his drug-dealing friends, was caught after being seen sniffing cocaine by undercover officers.

The policeman was seen taking the drug with three dealers at the Robin pub in Hull on several occasions in 2008.

Watts also failed to investigate his friends, former rugby players and prison officers Lance Busby and Carl Towle, who were running a 300,000 cocaine ring in the city.

Judge Graham Robinson described him as a "stunningly successful" police officer as he jailed him for 15 months.

He said: "You crossed the line. Your knowledge that Busby and Towle were involved with drugs was of enormous significance and it was your public duty to pass on the intelligence, which you didn't do. It was a clear example of misconduct.

"You have a previous exemplary service record. No-one suggested being a police officer was easy. You now have to live with the knowledge that despite all of your exemplary work, you have ultimately let yourself down, your colleagues and the community you served."

Watts had joined Humberside Police in 2002 and handed in his notice seven days after his arrest in 2008.

He was investigated by the force's anti-corruption unit, which discovered he was in regular telephone contact with four drugs dealers.

Watts, of east Hull, pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to misconduct by wilfully neglecting his public office between 2006 and 2008 by failing to inform on or investigate his friends.