Former officer who faked evidence after investigative failure is jailed

Daniel Jackson, who served with Suffolk Constabulary, was called as back-up to help two more junior officers who were making an arrest in Newmarket last year.

The 28-year-old threw away three wraps of Class A drugs that were seized from a stopped vehicle then filed a false report to say nothing had been recovered, Norwich Crown Court heard on Tuesday (November 24).

When other officers challenged him about the missing evidence months later, he falsified evidence – making fake drugs wraps using granulated sugar and logging them as an exhibit.

He admitted at earlier hearings to misconduct in public office and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The court heard that Jackson, of Lakenheath, had received a text message from his partner breaking up with him before the incident.

Judge Caroline Goodwin told Jackson: “I accept that you had received a very distressing text from your partner and that may have coloured your approach, but your conduct on this night was nothing short of disgraceful. There was an utter disregard for your role.”

She said Jackson allowed a suspect to leave the scene and discouraged a colleague from giving chase, saying he knew the suspect’s address and would speak to him later.

He also allowed a suspect to keep £800 found in the stopped vehicle.

“You simply failed to perform your duty that night,” the judge said. “It beggars belief that you simply say now that you threw away those wraps of Class A drugs.”

Jackson “effectively resigned” from the force in July, the judge said.

She accepted it was not an instance of personal gain, adding: “This was a sequence of decisions you will now regret for the rest of your life.”

Jailing him for 12 months, she said: “Honesty and integrity [go] to the heart of policing. Anything which undermines that very basic premise is to be discouraged.”