Police researcher jailed after leaking locations of Tottenham cannabis factories

A corrupt Haringey police researcher who tipped off his cousin about Tottenham cannabis factories to allow his friends to raid them was jailed yesterday.

Matthew Garness, 30, was standing for election as a Labour councillor for Waltham Forest Council and working towards Safer Streets for Leyton at the time of the corruption.

The disgraced worker revealed the location of two factories in Tottenham to his cousin 27-year-old David Chitolie of Rowley Road in Tottenham, which were later raided by brothers Dwayne and Dean Edwards.

He even advised Chitolie how to best avoid detection, but was exposed when officers planted information about a Mercedes with £5,000 and two kilos of cannabis hidden inside.

Garness was arrested on suspicion of data protection offences, conspiracy to steal and corruption in November 17, 2010.

Chitolie was arrested on the same day with intent to supply drugs, conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to burgle.

Garness, who resigned after the criminal proceedings began, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and conspiracy to steal.

He was handed two sentences for each offence - the first, three years and three months and the second, three years and five months, to run concurrently.

Chitolie pleaded guilty of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, conspiracy to steal and possession with intent to supply class B drugs.

He was sentenced yesterday to three years and three months in jail for the first offence and three years and nine months for the second offence - both to run concurrently.

Brothers Dwayne Edwards, 32, and Dean Edwards, 29, both pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal in the same plot.

The 32-year-old was sentenced in October last year to 50 hours community service and £100 in costs and his brother, Dean Edwards, to four months in jail suspended for 12 months as well as 100 hours community service and £100 costs.

Commander Peter Spindler, director of professional standards, said: "We will not tolerate this type of appalling behaviour by any of our employees and will continue to target with the full might of our resources the corrupt within our staff, and the corruptors who seek to influence their behaviour."

http://www.haringeyindependent.co.uk 26/06/2012