A drug gang member using the moniker "Lucky Penny" in encrypted underworld communications ran out of luck when police infiltrated secret chats.
Christopher Finlay was a trusted courier and warehouser who was paid £47,000 for delivering multiple kilos of cocaine and heroin. He was caught after police gained access to EncroChat, which criminals believed they could talk to each other securely on until police gained access in 2020.
When Finlay was pulled over by police, he was found with two kilos of cocaine in a secret compartment of specially adapted vehicle. Police also found a tick list hidden in a curtain pole and deployed a handwriting expert to show he was responsible for that. The list showed he had been involved in the supply, warehousing and delivery of 18 kilos of heroin and 114 kilos of cocaine.
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Jessica Slaughter, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "The phone evidence shows he worked for at least two individuals and distributed multiple kilos of cocaine and heroin and had a role forwarding sums of cash and it would have been large quantities of cash.
"He was clearly been managed and controlled by others but he is not a simple courier. He had a significant understanding of the operation in order to be involved in these large quantities."
Finlay was sentenced for the seizure of the two kilos of cocaine in 2020 and got four years and eight months for possession with intent to supply but was subsequently charged with being involved in the wider conspiracy.
The 39-year-old, of Blakelaw, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin. He has now been jailed for seven-and-a-half years by Judge Stephen Earl.
Thomas Schofield, defending, said: "He had served his sentence then been faced with a fresh sentencing exercise which was known at the original sentencing exercise. He was due for release from the earlier sentence in September last year but couldn't be released because he was on remand for the conspiracy indictment.
"He has been a model prisoner. He has the most enhanced status in prison one can receive. He has an excellent relationship with the staff in the prison and has worked towards his rehabilitation." Mr Schofield said Finlay has worked in trusted positions as a cleaner, kitchen worker and on reception in prison.
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