crooked cop is caught with cocaine; Officer nicked after he stole driver's wallet.

Byline: JONNY GREATREX

A CROOKED cop was caught with cocaine after cops raided his home looking for a wallet he had stolen.

Disgraced Detective Constable Anthony Martin, 48, is now facing jail and has been forced to quit West Midlands Police after a 30-year career.

Officers discovered the cocaine after the greedy cop was caught on CCTV stealing the wallet of a distracted motorist at a petrol station.

Martin, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, pleaded guilty to theft and possession of cocaine when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday.

Three days earlier he had also admitted thirteen offences, under the Data Protection Act, of illegally accessing police intelligence systems.

Martin, who was based at the Chase Avenue station, has now resigned from West Midlands Police after a 29-year career.

The court heard how the detective snatched the wallet while buying petrol at the Total garage on Foleshill Road, Coventry, on June 4 last year.

CCTV footage showed the customer before him, an Asian man in his 30s, paying for his fuel and then, after taking a call on his mobile phone, leaving his wallet on the counter.

Despite being employed to fight crime, Martin pocketed the wallet and its contents instead of handing it in.

But he was snared when colleagues investigating the theft checked CCTV footage from the petrol station shop and forecourt.

They later raided Martin's house and found the wallet - along with the Class A drug and other 'drug-taking paraphernalia'.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: "The man left his wallet on the counter and got distracted while taking a call on his mobile. He then left the garage without his wallet.

"The defendant walked in, picked it up and walked off.

"When officers watched CCTV it captured the vehicle and the defendant was the registered keeper.

Overwhelming "A warrant was obtained to search the house and there they found cocaine, tin foil, cling film and other drug-taking paraphernalia."

Martin originally appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court in September. But despite the overwhelming evidence against him he maintained his innocence until changing his plea to guilty before the planned trial.

The judge, recorder John Au-cottsaid: "I am aware the defendant was a police officer.

"This is a very sad case, it will be adjourned until September 21 for sentencing."

When approach by the Sunday Mercury to explain his actions, Martin just shook his head.

West Midlands Police confirmed the shamed detective was no longer an employee. A spokesman said: "Mr Martin was suspended from duty while a full investigation was carried out and has since resigned.

"His actions fell well short of the high standards of integrity and professionalism expected of all officers and employees of West Midlands Police.

"A further internal investigation also revealed misuse of police intelligence systems which led to the former officer pleading guilty to 13 offences under the Data Protection Act."

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CAPTION(S):

NABBED: Shamed officer Anthony Martin leaves court.