Michael Doyle led the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine, heroin and amphetamine throughout the first half of 2020. Bickerstaffe’s father was jailed today after an investigation revealed his crime. Prosecuting Charles Lander told the Liverpool Crown that Doyle was trapped after the Encrochat network was hacked. READ MORE:Arrested pedophile told police “I was a fool again” The messaging service, so heavily encrypted that it was advertised as impenetrable, has been favored by criminals as a method of communication for months. However, hacking the service as part of a pan-European effort in 2020 has resulted in dozens of criminals being brought to justice across the continent. Each Encrochat user was assigned a handle. Doyle’s “Battle-Hawk” was linked to Class A drug supply in the first half of 2020. The 44-year-old had 55 contacts on his device and talked to them about drug deals in Merseyside and messages were heard around the world. in court today. The messages the police received only covered a three-month period between March and June, but Mr Lander said the first detectable messages indicated that Doyle had a well-established operation by the spring of that year. He said: “From the examination of the encrypted messages sent and received by the accused, it is clear that he was in contact throughout the conspiracy period with various individuals regarding the supply of controlled drugs to others. “As one goes through the messages, it is obvious that the accused was involved in a series of successful transactions in connection with the supply of quantities of many kilograms of cocaine, but it is also important that he trafficked quantities of heroin and multiple kilograms of amphetamine.” Mr Lander showed a series of messages that saw Doyle chatting with other Encrochat users. One, since March, appears to be showing him organizing a drug collection from a closed pub in Merseyside. Another just a day later saw him talking to someone using the “illusivehat” handle about paying .000 40,000 for a kilo of cocaine and discussing how they could sell it to settle other accounts. In other messages, they talked about “airplane jobs” and “fish positions” in what a drug expert said was a reference to drug trafficking by air and sea. Mr Lander said Doyle remained involved in drugs after the Encrochat breach in the middle of the year. Police raided his home in April 2022, finding a large chunk of cocaine in a kitchen cupboard. It was vacuum sealed and prepared for further supply. Doyle was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and amphetamine and possession of cocaine for the purpose of supply. He pleaded guilty earlier this year. A judge found today that Doyle had organized the sale of at least 7 kilos of cocaine, although there was evidence of other possible transactions that could not be fully proven. Defendant Michael Bagley said Doyle fell into the drug trade after he became addicted to cocaine and now deeply regrets his actions. He said: “I have before you someone who is remorseful, who says through his instructions to me that he is happy that he has reached the end. He does his best in booking to improve “. Judge Judith Bond said Doyle was apparently well established in the drug business to control significant amounts of business. He said: “You are clearly directing the purchase and sale of drugs to something that can only be considered a commercial scale.” Doyle, of Heyescroft, was jailed for 12 years. Read more related articles Read more related articles
