A former police officer, who spent thousands on his Met credit card to help his homeless daughter and fuel his "hellish descent into alcoholism", walked free from court yesterday.

A former police officer, who spent thousands on his Met credit card to help his homeless daughter and fuel his "hellish descent into alcoholism", walked free from court yesterday.

John Gallagher, 52, a once highly-regarded detective sergeant with the child abuse investigation team, told colleagues he had "no regrets" about using taxpayers' money to support the teenager.

London's Southwark Crown Court heard that on dozens of occasions he used the corporate card, meant for his official duties, to "drown his 29-year career two bottles of Scotch a day".

By the time he was caught he had blown £9622 - all of which has been repaid.

Gallagher, who was given an eight-month jail sentence suspended for two years, was one of several officers targeted in an investigation into suspected credit card abuse.

Gallagher, of Sutton, south-west London, who has since retired, pled guilty to one count of misconduct.The charge stated between November 15, 2005, and December 31 last year he "wilfully engaged in the improper use" of the card.

Nicholas Lobbenberg, defending, said: "This is an officer who has served well. He carried out very high profile work including anti-corruption work overseas."