A corrupt policeman faces prison after admitting that he struck a deal to plant drugs and firearms in a car in return for cash.

Daniel Withnell, from Heaton, Bolton, pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office and one of intending to pervert the course of justice.

Withnell, 30, will be sentenced at a later date after appearing at Manchester Crown Court via video link from Doncaster Prison. No details of the accusations against him were given.

Withnell, a detective constable, had admitted offering to arrange for the shotgun and drugs to be planted in an unnamed person's car, after making a deal with another suspect, named as Clare Smethurst, between 30 September and 30 October last year.

He also admitted using his position as a serving officer with Greater Manchester Police to access the police database between 28 February and 2 October last year to gain information from officers investigating another suspect, Robert Sandford.

Withnell is then alleged to have drafted false paperwork in which he claimed to be a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer.

The paperwork, which consisted of an MG3 form used by the CPS to notify investigating officers in writing charges and other advice in a criminal case, was subsequently sent by Withnell to a member of the public.

Withnell, who was serving in Salford Division at the time, was suspended by the police following his arrest last October. He had been a police officer with the force since October 2001.

Following Withnell's arrest, GMP officer DS Graham Cummings received an anonymous text message in March, falsely stating that a man had been paid to shoot Daniel Withnell. Withnell himself was found to have sent the message.

Smethurst, 48, of Hatherlow Court, Westhoughton, is accused of committing an act intended to pervert the course of justice. The court will sit on on 15 July to decide whether to continue proceedings against her.