A BENT policeman who was the head of a machine-gun carrying organised crime gang has seen an appeal against his sentence thrown out.

Former Nelson Sergeant Salim Razaq was jailed for 11-and-a-half-years at Liverpool Crown Court last year after he admitted offences including possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition, perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office and money laundering charges.

The 33-year-old’s lawyers launched an appeal against the sentence, which they said was ‘manifestly excessive’.

And they told London’s Court of Appeal that Razaq was not safe in jail after prison newspaper ConVerse identified him as an ex-policeman.

But the country’s most senior judge, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, branded his crimes ‘a most gross breach of trust and refused to cut his sentence.

Lord Judge told the court that Razaq, of Chester Road, Preston, kept an eye on his brother Hafiz Razaq’s drug-dealing operation and accessed the police database to find out what officers knew about his sibling.

He collected money made from his brother’s drug deals and arranged for pressure to be put on a witness who was due to give evidence against his family.

Police intercepted Razaq’s calls and raided his flat, where they discovered more than £70,000 in cash as well as two machine guns, a Sten gun and 228 live ammunition rounds. Officers later discovered a further 70 live rounds in his possession.

Lawyers for Razaq told the court he had pleaded guilty and helped police with their investigation.

They said he was not safe in prision and that he was kept on a high security wing, meaning he could not work and was having a ‘torrid time’.

But Lord Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Ouseley and Mr Justice Holroyde, rejected those arguments.

He said: “It was a very serious series of offences, prolonged, repeated and taking different manifestations.

“This was a most gross breach of trust and in the circumstances we can find nothing that would cause us to interfere.”