A heroin and cocaine dealer trafficked more than £5million of drugs under the pseudonym "Lawless Fly".
Liam McHale funded a lavish lifestyle by netting huge sums of money through the trade of illicit substances. But the "greedy" dad, who had a legitimate £40,000-a-year job, is now beginning a lengthy prison term.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Monday, that the 34-year-old operated on encrypted communications platform EncroChat and was involved in the supply of "multi kilo amounts" of heroin, cocaine and cannabis using the handle LawlessFly. Charles Lander, prosecuting, described how McHale had an "extensive network" of 65 other users saved in his contact list and detailed his business in notes saved on his phone.
READ MORE: Updates as David Ungi in court charged with murder of Vinny Waddington seven years later
But this "meticulous ledger" would prove his undoing after law enforcement agencies gained access to the messaging service in 2020. These notes and texts exchanged with other criminals revealed that he had been involved in supply of 84kg of cocaine, 13kg of heroin and 26kg of cannabis and the transfer of around £5.5million in cash.
McHale had a "very close relationship" with Encro user GenericBull and had also been in contact with GeneWilder, BushyHead, GolfBag and SnowEmu. The latter was previously discovered to have been used by Jordan Hughes, a 31-year-old dad-of-two from Roby who was handed 12 years behind bars in 2021.
When police raided McHale's home on Rexmore Road in Mossley Hill in January this year, officers seized "high value" watches, jewellery, clothing and shoes. A crypto mining rig was found set up in the garage of the property, which he had purchased for £270,000 in May 2020.
In messages, he spoke of buying a Rolex watch for £24,000 and bragged about "joining an expensive golf club in Formby" and shopping at a Louis Vuitton store. McHale - who has no previous convictions - had been working for a plastics firm but was furloughed during the Covid-19 pandemic, then moved to a £40k job as a telecoms engineer.
David Birrell, defending, described his client as a "broker" and a "middle man" in the drugs trade. The "loyal, kind, caring and dedicated" father had acted as carer to his disabled mum and has taken part in fundraising events for charity, and is now working in the staff canteen in HMP Altcourse.
Mr Birrell added: "He is a hard-working man. He is remorseful.
"He acknowledges he is an embarrassment to his parents, hard-working people. Mr McHale feels like he has let them down.
"He also feels like he has let down his partner and his little boy, who is only 13 months old. The defendant will miss a significant period of his childhood.
"He has distanced himself from his previous associates. He says he will accept any sentence that comes his way and when released he wants to turn his life around, above all for his son."
McHale - who appeared in court via video link - admitted conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis and money laundering. He was jailed for 11 years.
Sentencing, Recorder Ciaran Rankin said: "You were an important cog in this organisation. This was a sophisticated enterprise, designed to sow confusion and difficulty for any investigating authority.
"You are of previous good character, which makes it all the more astonishing to find someone like you in the position you are in. You are a well thought of, intelligent man.
"You have been in employment in a good, well paid job. It reveals a rather unhealthy greed on your behalf."
McHale could now be ordered to repay his ill-gotten gains under the Proceeds of Crime Act, and will be brought back before the court next year. He told the judge he would "move forward" as the hearing concluded, adding: "Sincere apologies for putting everyone in this position."
READ NEXT: Suspect named after man attacked with weapon
'Billy Whizz' gang with connections to Dubai, India and Iran netted £1million
Family had guns stolen from army and lived high life from heroin and crack ring
Swimming goggles slasher, boastful paedophile and takeaway owner jailed
Man faces huge fine or two weeks in jail for failing to appear for jury duty
