Notorious UK Gangland Boss Locked Up for Over 26 Years
A feared crime kingpin known as “Aceprospect” has been jailed for more than 26 years after arming UK gangs with deadly military-grade weapons. Philip Waugh, 40, was exposed following a National Crime Agency (NCA) crackdown on encrypted chat platform EncroChat. The grim probe revealed Waugh’s sinister weapons list, which included automatic firearms and plots to blind victims with acid.
From Secret Weapons Dealer to Prison Cell
Waugh ran his illegal arms empire from overseas, offering gangs a terrifying arsenal: two AK47s, a Skorpion, an Uzi machine gun, pistols, and hundreds of rounds of ammo. After years on the run, he was finally busted last September at his luxury villa in Benahavis, Malaga, following a sting that brought him back to UK soil.
In April at Liverpool Crown Court, Waugh pleaded guilty to multiple firearms offences and conspiring to cause grievous bodily harm. His early guilty pleas cut his sentence by a third, but he still faces a hefty 26 years and 8 months behind bars.
Deadly Gun Deals and Vile Acid Attack Plot
Waugh smuggled weapons into the UK, handing them off to his right-hand man Robert Brazendale, who distributed them to organised crime gangs. Brazendale was locked up for over 11 years in 2022 for gun-running alongside Waugh.
But the horrors didn’t stop at guns. Waugh conspired with gang enforcer Jonathan Gordon, alias “Valuedbridge,” to blind a victim with acid. His chilling orders to “double the dose” and “cook” the man’s face aimed to cause permanent damage. Police thwarted the brutal attack before it could happen. Brazendale also admitted to being involved in the acid plot.
Huge Haul of Illegal Weapons Seized
The NCA, in partnership with UK and Spanish police, confiscated a deadly stockpile of firearms, including AK47s, Uzis, Skorpion machine guns, pistols, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Ben Rutter, NCA Senior Investigator, said: “Waugh’s sentencing is a massive win after five years of tireless work by NCA officers. He was motivated only by money, supplying weapons to criminals hell-bent on horrific crimes with zero regard for public safety. We acted fast once we uncovered his gun list and will keep working with partners at home and abroad to stop organised crime groups trafficking firearms.”
