A TOP Merseyside detective is facing corruption charges after allegedly accepting gifts and bribes from a Widnes informant.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how Det Chief Inspector Tony Doyle, 46, entered into a topsy-turvy relationship with 26-year-old Lee Whittaker, of Warkworth Close, Hough Green.

David Steer QC, prosecuting, told the court how the former deputy head of the Merseyside drugs squad signed Whittaker up as an informant in 1994 after arresting him on drug dealing charges.

Anti-corruption officers bugged Doyle's car, his phone and cloned his pager for over a year after suspicion grew over the nature of his relationship with Whittaker.

Mr Steer told the court that, in a bizarre relationship, Whittaker would give Doyle cash and presents and was even heard on one occasion to call him "Dad".

He added: "Here we have the handler providing information and performing tasks on behalf of the informant and receiving payment for the same in goods and money."

Doyle even handed Whittaker police secrets, successfully persuading Judge Duncan at Liverpool Crown Court to grant Whittaker bail at a time when he was on remand at Liverpool prison awaiting trial for allegedly dealing in heroin and crack cocaine.

Judge Duncan told the court that bail was granted on the grounds that Doyle had told him he needed the informant to help with a murder inquiry.

The court also heard how DCI Doyle asked favours of other officers to help Whittaker get away with five motoring offences.

On one occasion, Doyle is said to have met up with a young constable and asked him to "mess up the investigation to prevent Lee Whittaker from going to prison" after Whittaker was arrested in Liverpool driving a BMW and found to have a small amount of cannabis in his possession.

Whittaker, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to giving Doyle gifts and money, will be sentenced at the end of the trial which is expected to last until mid-November.

Both defendants are currently on conditional bail.

Doyle is pleading not guilty to corruption.

The case continues.

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