DRUG RING’S COP MOLE GETS T WO YEARS
Gang boss gets 12 more months for aiding and a betting misconduct
A commended police officer with more than 20 years’ service has been jailed for two years for helping a drugs gang.
Pc Gary Christie was sentenced today after being convicted of passing confidential police information to convicted cocaine dealer Asa Dobbing.
During a three-day trial at Teesside Crown Court, a jury heard Christie was lifelong friends with Dobbing.
He was part of a circle of friends based around the Ashbrooke pub in Stannington Grove, Sunderland, and its football team, which was managed by Dobbing.
When Jamie Malloy, one of Dobbing’s drugs couriers, was arrested, Christie searched police computers for information about Malloy after being asked to do so by Dobbing.
“Christie was Asa Dobbing’s man,” said Nick Dry, prosecuting. “He was in his pocket.
“Following Malloy’s arrest, Dobbing telephoned Christie at work at Boldon police station.
“Within minutes Christie accessed the police intel- ligence system, and began searching for the name of Jamie Malloy. The pair were then on the phone together during the search, and for 15 minutes afterwards. A clear inference can be drawn about what they were talking about.”
Christie, 42, of Silksworth Lane, Sunderland, denied misconduct in public office, and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between August 2012 and April 2014. He was acquitted by the jury of conspiracy, but convicted of misconduct.
Sentencing Christie, Judge Howard Crowson told him: “It is clear you put your loyalty to your friend Asa Dobbing above that of your duty as a serving police officer.
“The breach of trust was aggravated by you being an intelligence officer, and by the fact you continued the association with Asa Dobbing despite being warned off by colleagues.
“A message must be sent that police officers prepared to assist criminals must also receive prison sentences.”
Dobbing, 37, of Ryhope Grange Court, Sunderland, who is already serving 14 years for drug dealing, was given an extra year for aiding and abetting Christie to commit misconduct.
After the case, Superintendent Janice Hutton, head of Northumbria Police’s professional standards department, said: “The sentence today reflects the seriousness of the abuse of trust.”
Christie still faces a formal internal disciplinary hearing, but the court was told it is inevitable he will be sacked.
“Christie was Asa Dobbing’s man. He was in his pocket” PROSECUTION