Drug officer's sentence cut

David Redfern and Nicola Bladen shared a house

An elite police officer who was jailed after he was caught on a hidden camera dealing and taking cocaine has had his sentence reduced.

David Redfern, 42, of Hilton, Derbyshire, a former sergeant who was sacked following his conviction, had his three-year-and-nine-month prison term cut by a year at the Court of Appeal.

He had served on the National Crime Squad for five years, but was caught in 2000 taking and supplying drugs on a video camera secretly installed by police in a house in Derbyshire he shared with his mistress.

Redfern had pleaded guilty to charges of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, offering to supply cocaine, two counts of possessing cocaine and perverting the course of justice.

Possessing ecstasy

At a hearing on Thursday, Mr Justice Hunt ruled the original sentence, imposed by Judge Charles Wide QC at Northampton Crown Court in January had been too severe.

Two of Redfern's co-defendants also had had their sentences cut at the appeal hearing.

Redfern's mistress Nicola Bladen, 36, had admitted five charges of supplying cocaine, one count of possessing cocaine, two counts of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and a charge of possessing ecstasy.

She had her two-year jail term reduced to one year.

Community service

The couple's friend Mark Hancock, 37, of Meynell Street, Derby, was given two years in jail after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine, offering to supply cannabis and supplying ecstasy.

He also had his sentence cut to one year.

Two of Redfern's colleagues were also arrested with him in April 2001 and sentenced for drugs offences.

Mark Jennison, 41, then a Derbyshire police sergeant, was jailed for 12 months after he was convicted of two counts of possession of cocaine and one count of supplying cocaine.

He has served his sentence and been released.

Heather Bossart, 40, a former Nottinghamshire police constable, admitted a charge of possessing cocaine and was sentenced to 100 hours community service.