Robert Carroll can sue GMP over heroin addiction
A former police officer who says he became addicted to heroin while working undercover can sue Greater Manchester Police for damages, a court has ruled.
Robert Carroll, now in his 40s, won a ruling from Court of Appeal judges on Friday.
He claims he fell into addiction while posing as a drug user in Wythenshawe in 2009.
Mr Carroll has brought a claim for damages for personal injuries, alleging negligence and breaches of regulations.
The court dismissed an appeal by GMP against the decision of a judge at Manchester county court in 2015 which allowed the claim to proceed.
Master of the Rolls Sir Terence Etherton set out details of the claim, saying that Mr Carroll's case was that GMP was "vicariously liable".
The court heard he had "suffered consequential psychiatric and other harm".
Sir Terence added: "If the claim is made out, then the claimant will have suffered significant loss and damage as a result of the defendant's negligence."
Mr Carroll left the undercover unit and returned to normal duties in November 2009, the court heard.
In July 2012 he was suspended from duty when a number of allegations against him. In November 2013 he pleaded guilty to theft and misconduct in public office.
In a written basis of plea, Mr Carroll said while he was dependent on heroin, he swapped his baton and his CS gas for drugs, and while on duty he absented himself from his work in an attempt to secure more heroin.
He was sentenced to 14 months in prison and sacked from the force.
GMP described the case as "weak", but the judge said its strength could not be judged without hearing the evidence.