Man's trip to local fish and chip shop led him to being jailed for 28 years
Thomas Speed
A man's love for his local chippy has landed him a hefty jail sentence, resulting in a staggering 28-year behind bars.
Thomas Speed was busted as the man behind the EncroChat alias "Simple Creek" after his so-called covert messages revealed mentions of a chip shop close to his house, alongside references to his tarmacking company.
Alongside accomplices James Salkeld and Scott Roseau, the trio received a hefty combined sentence exceeding 65 years on Monday for their roles in orchestrating firearms distribution and large-scale class A drug trafficking using the encrypted communication service.
During the proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, it emerged that Speed and Roseau were deeply involved in the heroin and cocaine trade, dealing in massive kilo batches worth thousands of pounds each.
Their handles "SimpleCreek" and "MysticKangaroo" were also implicated in arranging arms transactions before French authorities cracked the network in 2020.
James Salkeld
On March 30, 2020, a user "SlightDrake" messaged Speed asking "that u tarmac?", connecting him to his company Maghull Surfacing Limited, based on Moorhey Road in Maghull.
The 37-year-old was caught in the act when he sent a snap of paving stones he'd removed to "HuntedElf" on April 2, boasting: "Got 35m2 to do this street, then I'm done. Easy day, flag out, mac in.", reports the Liverpool Echo.
He later set up a rendezvous with "SkiBat" on April 14, casually dropping: "Go to the shops by ours mate. The Seabreeze chippy, I'll be there in 10."
His house was described as being just "a matter of yards away and a one minute drive". Speed even shared a photo of his kids playing in the lounge and spoke about his birthday bash plans for April 26, and recounted a brutal attack that left him with head wounds, landing him in Aintree Hospital on May 8.
Scott Roseau
Meanwhile, Roseau from Daubeney Road in Hackney, East London, got rumbled as Mystic Kangaroo after by revealing his name in messages. His movements were tracked down thanks to cell siting and automatic number plate recognition data, which tied together his Encro phone, personal mobile, and rented Mercedes.
Speed, who has a history of criminal activity including a three-and-a-half-year stint for class A drug trafficking in 2008, was represented by Alaric Walmsley.
Speed, convicted by a jury of conspiracy to possess firearms for sale or transfer, possession of ammunition, and supply of heroin and cocaine, appeared via video link from HMP Liverpool and received a 28-year sentence.
Roseau, found guilty on two counts each of conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition, along with conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine, saw his supporters cry and exit the courtroom as he was sentenced to 22 years.
Salkeld admitted to charges of conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition as well as conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine, and cannabis. He received a sentence of 15 years and four months in prison.