A corrupt police officer helped his drug gang "enforcer" brother by hiding a cache of weapons and intimidating witnesses, it can now be reported.

Salim Razaq, 33, a Lancashire Police sergeant, had three machine guns, bundles of ammunition and more than £70,000 of laundered cash hidden at his home.

Razaq was caught when he plotted to help his brother Hafiz, known as "The Enforcer" and "Big Haf", escape prosecution for his role in a violent turf war between drugs gangs in Preston.

He pleaded guilty last month to perverting the course of justice, possession of firearms and ammunition as well as misconduct in a public office.

Judge Henry Globe QC, at Liverpool Crown Court, lifted reporting restrictions on Razaq's crimes after he was cleared of mortgage fraud in separate proceedings.

Police bugged phone calls that Hafiz, 25, made from prison to his brother while awaiting trial for kidnapping and beating up a rival as part of a drug-related "turf war". The pair were overheard discussing their money laundering and witness intimidation plans.

Lancashire Police's Professional Standards Department swooped on the sergeant's home in Chorley Road, Walton-le-Dale, near Preston, in March and found a Sten machine gun and two Uzi machine guns hidden under the stairs.

They also seized 228 bullets stashed in socks and plastic bags under the garden shed, a bullet-proof jacket and a balaclava in the loft, and a knuckle duster in the garage. The cash totalling £72,000 was found in

Salim's bedroom.

Razaq joined Lancashire Constabulary in March 2001 as an emergency response officer and worked his way up to the rank of sergeant, covering the town of Nelson, in January 2009. He was sacked by Lancashire Police in June after the force implemented a rarely-used Special Case Hearing procedure to fast-track his dismissal.

Razaq pleaded guilty last month to misconduct in a public office, two charges of perverting the course of justice, three charges of possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, and also conspiracy to transfer criminal property and conspiracy to acquire or retain criminal property.