WPCs jailed for supplying drugs

Two women police officers were jailed for a year yesterday after they admitted supplying and possessing drugs.

Constables Elizabeth Hartley and Lisa Wilkinson, both 25, face certain dismissal from Lancashire police force and are likely to be kept in an isolation wing while in prison for their own protection.

The women, from Colne, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to possessing amphetamines and cannabis, possessing the two drugs with intent to supply and supplying the two drugs. Hartley also admitted possessing ecstasy, the class-A dance drug.

The officers bowed their heads and were close to tears during their sentencing. The Recorder of Liverpool, Judge William Wickham, said: "Police officers are trusted by the community not to deliberately flout the law as you did, deliberately taking prohibited drugs and ... you deliberately supplied drugs to a girl you had met on holiday."

James Gregory, for the defence, said earlier: "Anyone with any maturity, bearing in mind their role in life, would appreciate the lunacy of it, but it is too late now to reflect on that for both of them."

Liverpool Crown Court heard how amphetamines, cannabis and the ecstasy were found in the flat the pair shared with John Roberts, also 25.

Guy Gozem, for the prosecution, told the court that in August 1994 Lancashire police drug squad saw a number of people delivering drugs to the flat, which they later searched and found 22g of cannabis worth pounds 66, more than five grammes of amphetamines worth pounds 50 and two ecstasy tablets worth pounds 10 each.

Mr Gozem said a letter found at the flat from a girl the pair had met on holiday made clear they intended to supply her with the drugs. It read: "To Liz, please find enclosed cheque for pounds 80. I think it's enough. pounds 45 smoke, pounds 10 E, pounds 25 speed. I've left it blank for you to fill in."