A POLICE officer has been charged with offences including misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to commit burglary.

Former Greater Manchester Police PC Stephanie Heaps, from Runcorn, faces two counts of misconduct – as well as money laundering and intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence.

The 30-year-old, who served the force in the Bolton area, is due to appear before Manchester Magistrates Court next month and has been released on bail ahead of that date.

GMP says that misconduct proceedings ‘will commence following the criminal proceedings’.

Six other men and women have also been charged in relation to the force’s investigation.

Thirty-three-year-old Leon Ramsden – also known as Layten Ramsden, and of no fixed address – faces charges of conspiracy to commit burglary, money laundering, three counts of possessing a mobile device inside a prison and being concerned in the supply of a class B drug.

Joanne Campbell, 46, has been charged with money laundering and encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence.

Lee Ramsden, 51, and Clifford McCarthy, 33, have both been charged with money laundering.

Thomas Barrass, 26, and Philip Markland, 38, faces counts of conspiracy to commit burglary.

The latter five – all of Bolton – have also been bailed ahead of their court appearances, while Ramsden is a serving prison in HMP Parc in Wales.