A FORMER police Sergeant branded a 'criminal in uniform' by his bosses has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years.

Ex-Nelson officer Salim Razaq, 33, plotted to scupper his brother Hafiz's kidnap and assault trial by threatening witnesses, collected in drugs debts, unlawfully searched the police computer system and stashed lethal sub machine guns at his house.

Judge Henry Globe QC said his involvement with the 'Deepdale Gang' in the Preston area had lead to a 'catalogue of offences' before he was 'caught red-handed' following a search on his home by his colleagues in March this year.

He labelled Razaq's actions whilst a serving Pennine Sergeant as a 'gross breach of trust and a dereliction of duty' which had brought 'potential discredit to the police force as a whole'.

Judge Globe said: “It has made the tasks of other officers more difficult as the public's confidence in the credibility and good character of good police officers is diminished.”

Referring to the three sub machine guns, the judge added: “They were kept safe by you to be returned to use by individuals or gangs to kill, maim, terrorise or intimidate.”

The corrupt officer had been leading a double life, but was finally caught out when his brother was jailed and their phone conversations were routinely taped by the prison service.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of perverting the course of justice, three charges of possession of firearms, possession of ammunition, money laundering and misconduct in a public office.

He 'abused' the forces Sleuth computer system by making 79 separate searches on 34 different days of his relatives and associates.

Salim Razaq's barrister, Andrew Menary QC, claimed that his client had feared for his family's safety due to a long-running feud when he was asked to stash the machine guns and bullets at his house in Chorley Road, Walton-le-Dale.

One of Razaq's sisters had disappeared, 'feared abducted', in mysterious circumstances and Mr Menary said: “Refusal would have put him and his family at risk of more serious harm.”

Mr Menary admitted his client's actions had 'grossly damaged' the reputation of Lancashire Constabulary.

For two counts of perverting the course of justice and money laundering, Hafiz Razaq was given three-and-a-half years in addition to the six year sentence he is already serving.

The brother’s mother Gulshan Razaq, 58, of Chester Road, Preston, was given a 44-week jail sentence, suspended for two years, plus a three month curfew for perverting the course of justice.

Convicted arsonist and blackmailer Jason Lawrenson, 25, was given 32 months for money laundering to serve alongside his current indeterminate prison sentence for public protection.

Father-of-one Daniel Cookson, 25, of Yew Tree Avenue, Ribbleton, was jailed for 16 months for money laundering.

Louis Bamber, 22, who admitted possession of a firearm, was given 18 months in jail.

Following the sentencing, Assistant Chief Constable Andy Cooke said: “I'd like to reaffirm both our commitment to tackling serious and organised crime and to taking robust action against any officers or staff that fail to maintain the high standards of professional behaviour and integrity which the vast majority adhere to.”