A POLICEMAN who was involved in a drugs deal which turned out to be a honeytrap set by two undercover women officers investigating drug taking in the Hertfordshire police force has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. A court was told yesterday (Tuesda

A POLICEMAN who was involved in a drugs deal which turned out to be a "honeytrap" set by two undercover women officers investigating drug taking in the Hertfordshire police force has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

A court was told yesterday (Tuesday) that Michael Nash, 23, had been in discussions about drugs and had offered to supply the two undercover officers with £40 worth of cocaine.

Nash, of Starlings Bridge, Nightingale Road, Hitchin, and a friend, Nicholas Cady, of Shefford Road, Meppershall, who was also involved and also jailed for two-and-a-half years, were told by Judge Peter Fenn as he sentenced them at Chelmsford Crown Court: "Cocaine is an evil substance that wrecks people's lives. Those caught supplying cocaine must expect immediate custodial sentences."

The judge added that "recreational use" of cocaine led to addiction and destabilisation with further offences being committed.

And he told the two: "Nash - you have lost your career, you've let everybody down. It's the duty of a police officer to uphold the law at work and when off duty and you significantly failed.

"Cady - you have blighted what was the start of a life and a career. It is a tragedy for both."

The court heard that Hertfordshire Police launched the undercover operation involving two officers, named only as "Michelle" and "Charlie", after concerns by its professional standards department about drug use by serving officers.

Alan Compton, prosecuting, said that Michelle and Charlie went to Chicago's in Stevenage on September 5 last year at 8.30pm and that there were a lot of people who were off duty police officers.

Mr Compton continued: "Both spoke to a number of people who identified themselves as police officers. Introduced to Nash, the woman officer told him she 'liked cocaine' and he said he used drugs himself."

Mr Compton said a colleague with Nash told how he took five days leave after taking drugs so that he was not detected but then Nash became concerned and warned his colleague about what he was saying.

He had also put ice down Michelle's back to detect whether she had a recording device but had missed the device she had on her.

An exchange of telephone numbers led to a number of messages between Nash and Michelle before they met up again on September 20 at the Red Hart pub in Hitchin.

Cady, an old school friend, was with him and later they went to the Corn Exchange before returning to the Red Hart. Michelle said she was approached by another man offering drugs but she had declined.

Mr Compton said: "Nash said he could get some drugs for them - £40 worth - and got Cady to make a phone call. When he returned from making the call, Cady said the deal was on. Each woman handed over £15, which was given to Cady who went off.

"Nash talked about drug use and said they would have to go back to his place after getting the drugs as he had to be careful because of his job. Cady returned with 488 milligrammes of cocaine at 31 per cent purity."

Both undercover officers left the pub and Nash followed shortly afterwards and was arrested. Cady was arrested when he presented himself at a police station some days later.

At Nash's home a bottle containing 19 Phentamine tablets and three Tamazepam, both Class C drugs was found. When interviewed Nash said he was "trying to impress Michelle as he liked her".

Defending Nash, barrister William Saunders said: "He was showing off - he was attracted to the two undercover officers - and would have done anything to impress them. It was a honeytrap."

Mr Saunders said Nash was suffering post traumatic stress following an incident at work but now feels "he let everybody down".

"He has lost his job. His father was a senior ranking police officer. He is now working as a trainee electrician," added Mr Saunders.

Counsel for Cady, Sean Smith, said he received a degree in construction and engineering management from Loughborough University a week ago was due to start a job on September 1.

He had obtained the cocaine because Nash was a "serving police officer and not the person to get those drugs", he said.

Nash and Cady admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and Nash also admitted possessing Phentamine and Tamazepam.