Policeman, 36, who masterminded drugs racket after getting hooked on Breaking Bad – and even wore a 'Heisenberg' T-shirt - is jailed for six years

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A police officer who was obsessed with Breaking Bad has been jailed for more than six years for masterminding a drug supply business.   

PC Daniel Aimson, 36, was accused of copying storylines from the hit show to cultivate two cannabis farms he — even regularly wore a 'Heisenberg' T-shirt.

Heisenberg is the pseudoname of Breaking Bad's protagonist Walter White, a timid chemistry teacher who develops lung cancer and uses his expertise to create high-quality crystal meth and raise money for his family. 

In the American TV drama, chemistry teacher Walter White - played by actor Bryan Cranston - sets up a major crystal meth trafficking operation in Albuquerque, New Mexico to fund his cancer treatment.

A court heard Aimson began growing cannabis after he was injured in three road accidents whilst serving with Greater Manchester Police. 

Police patrolman Daniel Aimson (pictured with his wife Rachel) masterminded a wholesale drug trafficking racket after he became hooked on the TV crime drama Breaking Bad

He was in a wheelchair for three months after one of the crashes, claimed he was left with post traumatic stress disorder and became resentful of the way senior colleagues treated him.

Later, he used a driving licence he had confiscated from a motorist during a routine traffic stop to rent out two anonymous residential properties — just five doors away from each other.

Inside, he installed specialist hydroponic equipment to transform the houses into cannabis factories. 

But police were tipped off about his criminal operation and found 96 cannabis plants in one property and 70 plants in the other.

Officers also raided Aimson's fortified home in Astley, near Wigan, which he shared with his glamorous wife Rachel, and found £22,545 in dirty money.

Aimson was investigated by police between 2015 and 2016 after learning about letting agents renting properties so that cannabis could be grown at them, where they were then sold to a contact in Rhyl, North Wales

The house was found to have a sophisticated CCTV system and officers found film footage of Aimson wearing the Heisenberg T-shirt. 

Three other driving licences seized from motorists were also found at the house. The projected yield of the drugs was estimated at £84,500.

At Manchester Crown Court, Aimson was locked up for six years and four months after he admitted conspiracy to produce cannabis and misconduct in a public office. 

He was sacked from the force last February.

Passing sentence Judge Suzanne Goddard QC told him: 'You were in severe road traffic accidents and you became depressed because of your predicament.

'But it is difficult to see the link between these mental health issues and your decision to organise the conspiracy in the way that you did.

Aimson used a driving licence which he had confiscated during a routine stop to rent out two anonymous residential properties and installed special hydroponic equipment

'It is said you are remorseful but it is clear you expected to make a great deal of money and greatly improve the yield and expand into a further property. 

'You were a serving police officer at the time. You have let the determined, hard-working officers of Greater Manchester Police down very badly by undertaking this serious criminal enterprise.'

The court heard the university graduate joined GMP in 2002 but was injured in road accidents in 2007, 2011 and 2015 all whilst he was on duty. He took prolonged periods of sick leave and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety.

Police began investigating Aimson between 2015 and 2016 after learning of a crime gang using a crooked lettings agent to rent out properties so cannabis could be grown and then sold to a contact in Rhyl, North Wales.

Owen Edwards prosecuting said: 'He was considered to be in a leading role within the conspiracy. Evidence shows he both

Aimson (pictured on his wedding day) initially denied knowing about the drug business but later confessed 

Further texts revealed that Aimson and his gang talked up a 'sales drive to obtain Christmas money'

organised and financed the grows as well as him personally tending to day-to-day operations.

'He was seen at various stages on his own CCTV hard drive to wear a T shirt depicting the lead character 'Walt' in the hit TV series 'Breaking Bad'.

'The character plays a respectable Chemistry teacher who adopts a professional approach to the production and distribution of the drug

crystal meth and becomes in the process a highly successful drug dealer.

'In his various text messages it is clear that Aimson revelled in his double life as officer and criminal. He had clearly developed plans for expanding his business. '

Aimson obtained the driving licence after pulling over a driver whose licence had expired. 

He then used the document to rent houses in a false name on Railway Road in Leigh using his brother-in-law who worked at a letting company as a go between with the landlord.

Later Aimson would be seen cruising the locality in his Mercedes car going to and front the properties carrying boxes containing the hydroponic equipment and making cash deals in a layby. 

Christopher King (left) outside Manchester Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to conspiring to produce cannabis by providing infant plants. Richard Grady (right) is to be sentenced for conspiring to produce cannabis

He was also seen placing bin bags filled with cannabis harvests into the boot of his car.

One message Aimson sent to an accomplice via WhatsApp read: 'I'm looking at ditching work as soon as a I can. 

'I'll have three on almost 50/50 splits if we get another - we won't need to p**s about with anything else.'

During the operation of the cannabis farms the lettings agent dealt with an unsuspecting insurance assessor about a leak at a neighbouring property — when it had in fact been caused by the cannabis factory itself.

Aimson also described 2015 as 'the year of investing' and 2016 as the 'year of making money' and talked of acquiring a harvesting machine to help maximise their yield.

Further texts between Aimson and his gang talked of a 'sales drive to obtain Christmas money.'

Aimson initially denied knowing of the drug operation when he was arrested.

His lawyer Martin Callery said in mitigation: 'Mr Aimson does not accept the implication that he revelled in the role he had undertaken, and does not accept that he had based this fictional double life on a TV character.

'He does accept he was involved in an operation concerning the production of drugs and he is deeply ashamed. 

Jonathon Vaiders (left) outside Manchester Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis, and possession of cocaine with intent to supply. George Parkinson (right) outside Manchester Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis

'The fact he was a serving police officer and the shame and embarrassment he had clearly had to endure makes his guilty plea all the more mitigating to the situation.'

He added: 'Daniel Aimson left school to go to university and gained a degree and in December 2002 aged 21 he began working at GMP. 

'He has never known any job other than of being a police officer but his career as a police officer was blighted by three very serious road traffic accidents that took place all while he was on duty.

'In 2007 a crash caused him an injury that necessitated him to remain in hospital for three months and he was in a wheelchair for a further three months and then spent a further 12 months recuperating.

'He returned to work but four years after the first accident he was again involved in a traffic collision while on duty. 

'In 2015 he was involved in another accident again while he was on duty. That accident resulted in the car being on its top and he had to be cut out of it and his mental health suffered.

'He suffered from depression and anxiety and received occupational therapy and when he eventually returned to work after the accident it was only to perform what is described as 'light duties'. 

'His return to work was short lived, his mental health problems escalated in what would be described as PTSD. He candidly says he agreed to get involved in this enterprise and concedes his role became a managerial one.

'He admits he was unhappy with the way he had been treated by his employer, and his mental state after the accident must have been in an unstable state. This is not as sophisticated as some commercial enterprises are.

Aimson's brother in law Richard Grady, 31, of Hindley, Wigan, admitted conspiring to produce cannabis and was jailed for 20 months. 

Michael Hutton, 52, of Openshaw, Manchester admitted conspiracy and possessing amphetamines with intent and was jailed for three years and four months.

Christopher King, 48, of Ryeburn Drive, Bolton, Hussein Mozahem, 24, of Findlay Street, Wigan, and George Parkinson, 30, of Ullswater Street, Leigh, all admitted conspiracy. 

Mozahem got three years, Parkinson got two years and four months whilst King got two years.

Jonathan Vaiders, 27, of Jaffrey Street, Leigh, Wigan, admitted conspiring to produce cannabis and possession and intent to supply cocaine and was jailed for four years. 

Steven Hindley, 27, from Rhyl, North Wales admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis and was jailed for two years and four months.