Detectives face jail over torture plot

Two detectives consumed by "greed, power and influence" were warned they face long jail terms at the Old Bailey today for helping criminals in a plot to kidnap and torture a convicted money launderer who owed them cash.

They were trapped in a brilliant surveillance operation described by Scotland Yard sources as "hugely significant and possibly the most successful ever inquiry" into corrupt officers. Today Dc Martin Morgan and Dc Declan Costello, both based at Barkingside police station, were awaiting sentence by Judge Graham Boal after admitting corruption charges that can be reported for the first time.

Morgan enticed long-time friend Costello into a plot to help his criminal business partner Robert Kean kidnap a crooked financier who owed him £600,000. Detective Chief Superintendent Shaun Sawyer, head of the Yard's anti-corruption squad, said: "It was all about greed, power and influence. The greed for power to control people's lives. Morgan wanted to be a police officer who broke the boundaries within which he was supposed to work. He was an officer so out of control and so arrogant."

Morgan, 39, with 21 years in the Met, had been suspected but never proved to be corrupt for some years before Operation Greyhound was launched in January 2000. In March police discovered Kean, a property developer with convictions for violence, theft and burglary, was out to get a business partner, Mr X, who owed him money and was later to plead guilty to laundering more than £100,000 of drugs cash for him.

The 40-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken into protective custody and a sting operation was set up at the Post House hotel, Guildford.

By this time Morgan had illegally used the police national computer to check on a car owned by Mr X and Costello had lied to a court to secure a search warrant on Mr X's safety deposit box in Edgware.

Police booked a room at the hotel in the name and credit card details of Mr X, filled it with his personal effects including his passport, and sent an anonymous tip to Morgan Mr X would be there. None of the hotel's management or staff knew the room was packed with bugs and surveillance equipment.

Just 12 hours after the tip-off Kean - obviously alerted by Morgan - and his associate Carl Wood, owed £80,000 by Mr X, tricked staff into giving them access to the hotel room. They were joined by Morgan, meant to be on duty more than 70 miles away, and Costello. These two arrived in a hire car rented under a false name, described in criminal slang as "a throwaway".

Morgan gave the two criminals cable wire to use as handcuffs and told them "put these on him and he is not going anywhere."

In fact Mr X was safe miles away and Kean and Wood, who had a knife, waited in the room nearly 48 hours unwittingly providing police with video and audio evidence. Referring to Morgan, Wood said: "He thinks like us," and Kean replied: "That's why he is so good at his job."

They discussed what to do to Mr X, including taking him to Ireland in the boot of a car, drowning him or throwing him in a crusher.

Police, while unconvinced they intended to kill Mr X, are certain they intended "serious physical harm".

Before they left the criminals wiped tops and window sills, and removed cigarette butts and cans to remove forensic evidence. Morgan wore rubber gloves. Eleven days later police arrested Morgan - who was trained in avoiding surveillance and had also served in the discredited South East Regional Crime Squad - at his home in South Woodford.

Costello, 36, then working with Morgan in the burglary and robbery squad, was arrested at Barkingside police station and Kean, 54, picked up at his home in Norwich.

Wood, 45, from Waltham Cross, who had a prison record, was on holiday in Spain at the time and was extradited 18 months later.

It is unclear why Morgan, married with children, risked so much to help Kean gain revenge. Although the court heard there was "an overwhelming inference" Morgan was being paid, Detective Chief Inspector David Pennant said there was no concrete evidence of financial gain.

Today Kean, Wood and Morgan admitted conspiracy to falsely imprison Mr X. Wood and Costello admitted conspiracy to cause Mr X actual bodily harm. They will be sentenced tomorrow.