Mario Lambert, a veteran homicide investigator, was at the courthouse in Montreal, Friday, 7 October 2011. (QMI Agency/JOEL LEMAY)

MONTREAL - A former Montreal detective has been given an eight-month conditional sentence for fraudulently using a police computer to help organized crime members.

A sting operation and caught Mario Lambert using a police database to run licence plates for non-police purposes. Police became more suspicious after they were tipped off that he was passing information to organized crime members.

Before he was caught Lambert had a stellar police record.

Crown prosecutor Sylvie Villeneuve said the verdict should "send a message to everyone who is thinking about imitating (Lambert)."

Crown prosecutors wanted Mario Lambert to serve jail time but the judge ruled the former cop should get three months house arrest and a year of probation. Restrictions on his movement will be eased for the final five months.

Lambert's lawyer, Richard Perras, said his client will be seeking an appeal in order to work in policing again.