A man’s trip to the chippy led to him spending nearly 30 years behind bars.
Thomas Speed was identified as EncroChat user “Simple Creek” after his supposedly secret messages showed him mentioning a chip shop and paving business near his home.
He and two other men, James Salkeld and Scott Roseau, were sentenced Monday to a combined total of more than 65 years in prison for using the encrypted communications platform to trade firearms and bulk quantities of class A drugs.
A hearing at Liverpool Crown Court heard Speed and Roseau were involved in the supply of heroin and cocaine on a “commercial level”, dealing kilogram quantities of tens of thousands of pounds each. They also used the accounts “SimpleCreek” and “MysticKangaroo” respectively to make arms deals before French police infiltrated the network in 2020, Liverpool Echo reported.
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Prosecutor Stephen McNally described how the former was linked to the username by the North West Regional Organized Crime Unit after being referred to as “Tom” by other users, while also saying the user “FlameCalm” was called “Fast”. during a conversation. Meanwhile, speeding on Moorhey Road in Maghull is “tarmac?” he was asked. By “SlightDrake” on 30 March 2020 as the owner of a business called Maghull Surfacing Limited.
The 37-year-old man further touched on this line of work in his conversation with “HuntedElf” on April 2, posting a picture of the paving stones he removed with the message: “I have 35m2 to build this street, then I’m done.” . Easy day, mark, enter mac.”
Speed then set up a meeting with “SkiBat” on 14 April, saying: “Go down to our shop, mate. Seabreeze chippy, I’ll be there in 10 minutes.”
His home was said to be only “a few meters away and a minute’s drive away”. The father also sent Hunted Elf a photo of his children playing in the living room, informed ‘KingWasp’ that his birthday was on April 26, and stated that he had been subjected to a serious attack, suffered head injuries and was admitted to Aintree Hospital in May. 8.
Meanwhile, Roseau, of Daubeney Road in Hackney, East London, has been revealed as the Mystic Kangaroo, with messages seeing her name revealed. Cell positioning and automatic license plate recognition data also linked the movements of the 41-year-old man’s Encro phone, his personal cell phone and his rented Mercedes.
Salkeld was shown using the username “Top Golfer” in messages about his brother’s arrest, a trip to Amsterdam, and the death of a family member. The 37-year-old man, of Delamore Street in Kirkdale, had to be extradited from the Netherlands to the UK following his arrest in November 2022 because he also used EncroChat to plan the supply of firearms, heroin, cocaine and cannabis.
Speed’s previous convictions included a three-and-a-half year prison sentence for class A drug trafficking in 2008. Alaric Walmsley, defending, told the court: “There was a large part of his life when he was involved in drug trafficking, which were legitimate and, to some extent, successful businesses.
“For whatever reason, he adopted this means of making a living in 2020. Your Honor sees businesses he had established in the past prior to this as being able to legitimately support his family.”
Roseau’s criminal record includes records of possessing a firearm with intent to create fear of violence in 2003 and supplying heroin in 2007 after a quantity of class A drugs, £10,000 in cash and a bag of bullets, shell casings and gunpowder were seized. . His lawyer, Jon Harrison, said: “He was last convicted by a court 17 years ago.
“Prior to 2003, he was pursuing further education and working toward a legitimate and positive lifestyle before an incident at a children’s party came to light and escalated into a serious adult situation involving a firearm. He developed a heroin addiction, which led to other crimes.”
“Mr. Roseau came out clean, became a father to three children, and took responsibility for another with significant needs. His life got back on track, even though the jury concluded that he was indeed the Mystic Kangaroo.”
Mr Harrison said it could not be concluded that any firearm-related deal had been successfully concluded, adding: “There was no evidence of a lavish lifestyle. He was not someone who could be said to own anything of real value.”
“He has numerous dependents who will be negatively affected by his absence. Mr. Roseau wishes to be with them as soon as possible.”
Salkeld had previous convictions for antisocial behavior and driving matters and last appeared in court in 2019 when he was sentenced to eight months in prison. Sam Parham said on his behalf: “A letter from his former partner is evidence of a positive aspect of his character.
“We have argued that his remorse is genuine. We say this is reflected in his behavior in custody.
“He built very positive relationships with the Samaritans and played a positive role there. He put his repentance into practice and achieved positive results for others and a very positive change for himself.”
Speed was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to sell or transfer, conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. The man, who attended HMP Liverpool via video link, was sentenced to 28 years in prison.
Roseau was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm, two counts of conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. His supporters burst into tears and walked out of the courtroom as he was sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Salkeld pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition and conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis. He was detained for 15 years and 4 months.
Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said Speed had the “capable of supplying firearms at will” while Salkeld “acted as an intermediary” in the supply of weapons, adding: “You contributed to drug-induced disruption and human misery.” “It is inevitable that the families of those who took them and the society affected by the crime will also be victims.”