Halewood Man Slapped with 13 Years for Massive Drug Conspiracy
A 43-year-old from Halewood has been hit with over 13 years behind bars at Liverpool Crown Court. Philip Richards was found guilty of conspiring to supply 5kg of cocaine, 22kg of heroin, plus hefty amounts of cannabis and amphetamine.
Encrypted Chats Blow His Cover
Richards, who lives on Lakenheath Road, operated under the Encrochat alias ‘stubbornfly’ from March to June 2020. Using this encrypted messaging service, he coordinated huge drug deals involving kilos of Class A and B substances including:
- 5kg cocaine
- 22kg heroin
- 2kg cannabis & 675 vape pens
- 2kg amphetamine & 10 litres of amphetamine oil
The tricky Encrochat network was designed to keep criminals off the radar — but cops cracked the code.
How Cops Pinpointed ‘Stubbornfly’
Officers linked Richards to ‘stubbornfly’ after spotting tell-tale signs. He’d shared photos of his garden, his kids, and even an image from a Halfords store on a particular day. Transaction records confirmed he got a refund from Halfords that same date, sealing the deal on his location.
Richards was nabbed on April 17, 2024, arrested right in his back garden. Police seized £2,000 in cash, phones, and an iPad. He pleaded guilty to multiple drug offences at an earlier hearing.
Police Vow to Keep Cracking Down
“Richards’ plan to flood communities with Class A drugs would have caused untold suffering,” said Detective Inspector James Boardman.
“Merseyside Police remain relentless in hunting down these criminals. We’ll keep targeting drug dealers who think they’re above the law.
If you have information on drug dealing, contact @MerPolCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
