Police officer Christopher McGinn is jailed for drug dealing

A DRUG-dealing policeman who was supplying cocaine to friends in his local pub, while on secondment to the drugs unit of Lothian and Borders Police, has been jailed for 26 months.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, 29-year old Christopher McGinn, of Crichton Road, Pathhead, was told by Sheriff Roderick MacLeod that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

He said: "As a serving police officer at the time, you were duty bound to uphold society's values rather than subverting them."

McGinn had pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug at the Ship Inn, High Street, Musselburgh, between 4 October 2007, and 4 October 2008; and attempting to pervert the course of justice by asking two officers to dispose of cocaine he had in his possession.

McGinn also pleaded guilty to 12 charges of accessing the Scottish Intelligence Database without a valid or lawful reason.

The force's Professional Standards Unit got information that he was involved in the supply of controlled drugs and was himself using drugs.