A former Leeds United player cried "I can't believe it" as she was jailed for her role in a drug operation.
Faye Dunn, who formerly also played for England, was caught in a police sting at Manchester Airport. Police managed to catch her out for her role as accountant in the cannabis trafficking operation worth millions of pounds.
Mum-of-two Faye, 38, had gotten involved in drug trafficking when the impact of Covid meant her business ventures started to falter.
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On Tuesday, September 6, Liverpool Crown Court heard how Dunn and her dad Michael Dunn, 68, had used EncroChat for their operation. EncroChat is an encrypted platform often used by criminals, the Liverpool Echo reports.
But in 2020, Operation Venetic meant officers managed to get access to the platform. They found Faye had been using the handle StiffNinja and her dad ZincBat.
Messages between Faye and a user called LedZeppelin showed she had "involvement in the supply and production of cannabis".
Faye Dunn was described as an "accountant for an organised criminal enterprise" for smuggling the cash they earned abroad. She had formerly been a director of several companies in Merseyside that included a children's play centre and a restaurant.
Prosecutor Nicola Daley said: "She played an operational role within the drugs supply chain but appeared to have significant influence upon others in the chain, facilitating meetings between criminal associates in relation to the supply of controlled drugs, and also instructed others to undertake tasks such as the collection and movement of packages of both drugs and cash.
"Significantly, she appears to have acted as the accountant for the organised criminal enterprise and has concealed not only her EncroChat device but also cash when travelling abroad in order to evade detection by the authorities."
Ms Daley added that Michael Dunn had carried out the supply, movement and handling of the cannabis. He would also arrange meetings to transfer money.
In one message sent from Faye to Michael on March 28, 2020, she wrote: "You reckon you can move five trees from by you over to me mate, or too risky?"
He replied: "Not tonight, roads too quiet. Can do it tomorrow."
Faye sent a message to another user on the same day detailing how she would "bring the trees and collect the sough". Just two days later, she used a business account to buy an £11,200 watch.
What appeared to be an accounting record showed she had made an income of £1,155,548 in a message she sent to LedZeppelin on April 2. Her expenditure on the sheet totalled around £431,700.
This included thousands on a house, cars, designer clothing and a £21,500 watch. Dunn previously played football for England under 19s as well as Leeds United and Tranmere Rovers at professional level.
On April 4 she messaged her dad: "Can you ask around see if anyone wants any kush please mate?" After he replied saying he would 'ask Billy', she said: "can that black kid do these kush?"
When he asked what kind it was, she said she had "buddha, bubble, orange, Jack Herer and silver haze" available.
Dunn travelled to Santander, Spain via ferry on May 8, 2020 using a van insured to her dad. This took place during lockdown, and during the trip Dunn messaged LedZeppelin about being worried authorities would catch her with cash in her trousers.
She wrote: "I reckon this van has got a marker on because it was as if they were waiting for me. I blagged the fella and made him half forget, so he let me just do him.
"If it was a problem they wouldn’t have let me go. Plus I didn’t act one bit fazed so I think they were happy that I was legit.
"I had another little black bag on me and I hid it in between paperwork I had on me. I didn’t let them go near the other black bag and I put the other dough down me kecks behind my back and was just talking to them to half distract them.
"I had took all my jewellery off except my wedding ring. If I call you on normal and say Liverpool, get this phone wiped."
Dunn is said to have played a 'leading role' in the operation, and is estimated to have supplied at least 24kg of cannabis. She also laundered £654,800 from December 2019. She was arrested at Manchester Airport on June 13, and refused to speak to police at interview.
Her dad was directly involved in the supply of 5kg worth of drugs in the five weeks before he stopped being involved. He gave no comment when he was held on July 11.
Both of them admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis and money laundering. Faye Dunn has previous convictions for driving while disqualified and drink driving.
Nick Buckley, defending, asked for a suspended sentence. His mitigation pleas included reference to Dunn setting up a charity to support former professional footballers and her children
Mr Buckley said: "What the court is being asked to extend is a significant element of mercy to Ms Dunn because of the responsibility she has in caring for others. It is her responsibility that those others are being placed in this predicament.
"She acknowledges there is serious offending that underpins it. There is a balance to be struck between the individual and the system here - what is contended is the balance weighs very heavily in Ms Dunn's favour.
"She is intelligent, resourceful, kind, loving, generous and sadly flawed. She has done wrong on a large scale over a prolonged period of time.
"Her children are being supported, encouraged and their needs are being met fully by a supportive mother. One knows the damage that separation will cause those children and the difficulties they will suffer as a result."
Despite his efforts, Dunn was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. She wailed "I can't believe it" as she was taken away after crying several times during the sentencing.
Sentencing, Judge David Potter said: "It is necessary at the outset to remark to you and others of the harm caused by trafficking cannabis. Cannabis can have profound, lasting effects on the brain.
"Long-term abuse can risk a user's mental health with a range of psychological problems, including paranoia and psychosis. Users can be consumed by the use of cannabis, which develops into dependence.
"Those dependent on cannabis turn themselves to crime in order to find their dependency. Many young and vulnerable people are exploited in the cannabis trade.
"The human toll is dramatic. Threats of and the use of violence are endemic in the cannabis trade.
"Recent events in this city show how innocent people can get caught in the spiral of violence of organised crime groups. Quite simply, cannabis dependency wrecks lives.
"It was into this trade that you have both willingly participated with the sole intention of significant financial reward. I accept that you are a woman of effectively good character - a highly intelligent, successful, motivated sportswoman, entrepreneur and mother of high achieving children.
"You came to this trade as a result of the failure of your businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic. You took your considerable management skills into the trade of drugs.
"It is a tragedy to see a young woman facing a sentence of imprisonment after leading a life full of past and continuing achievements. You should have been thinking about your two young children when you became involved in serious organised crime."
Her father Michael had 23 previous convictions already, including having been jailed in the Netherlands and Portugal. He was defended by William England, who said he was in the early stages of Alzheimer's as well as having mobility and cardiovascular issues.
Mitigating, Mr England said Michael Dunn was in a desperate place financially and his offences were almost three years old. Michael Dunn was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence.
The Dunns will appear in court again next year, and could be ordered to repay any benefits that came from their offending.
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