Bored police officer sold intelligence to criminals
A HERo policeman mired in debt and bored after being moved to a desk job took thousands of pounds in bribes from criminals.
PC Stephen Cloney, who was commended for his work with gangs and investigating the failed Tube attacks in 2005, initially worked in intelligence helping to tackle terrorism.
But after being moved to a job returning seized cars to their owners – a post he described as ‘a massive dent in my ego’ – and racking up £37,000 in debts, the father-of-one began selling confidential information.
Cloney demanded up to £500 a time for intelligence about cannabis factories and cocaine stashes – which was used by gangs to carry out armed raids. He also accessed the address of a motorist who went into hiding after thugs swore vengeance over the accidental death of a 13-year-old boy in a road accident.
Yesterday, the corrupt officer was jailed for five years by a judge who told him his abuse of his position had done ‘untold damage’ to public trust in the police. Judge Alan Conrad, QC, said: ‘You enjoyed power and privileges, but with that comes responsibility, duty and trust – and that was repeatedly abused by you.’
Cloney, who transferred from the Metropolitan Police to Merseyside in 2007, complained to friends that he was ‘stuck in a rut’ after being put on desk duties.
‘I want out the job all together... it’s sh**e and only getting worse,’ he wrote in a text message read out at Manchester Crown Court.
Cloney, of oxton, wirral, was arrested in January last year after a two-year investigation triggered by a complaint from a woman who said he was leaking information about her boyfriend. He had been warned about his conduct in 2017 but was allowed to return to work.
Cloney admitted corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and privileges by a constable. His lawyer David Temkin said his clie nt did not pass on the address of the man in the road accident.