A 'family man' was unmasked a drugs boss after he sent pictures of £100,000 in cash and huge blocks of cocaine. Dad-of-two Darren Midgley has been jailed for 15 years after being revealed as a drugs 'wholesaler' within the criminal underworld.
Known as 'BigLobos' on the secretive EncroChat platform, Midgley was part of a criminal network profiting from cocaine. His home had undergone extensive renovations and he had three expensive watches.
Midgley was linked to at least 11-and-a-half kilos of the class A drug. He used EncroChat to chat with associates and arrange drug deals. In one exchange, he sent a contact images of kilo blocks of cocaine and said: "Better than I thought bro."
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Midgley also sent an EncroChat user a picture of £100,000 in cash prior to a drugs deal. He employed a courier who also used the EncroChat network, who Midgley used at handovers.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Midgley was arrested at his home in Sudell Street, Collyhurst, in December last year. "It was apparent to the officers that a great deal of internal and external renovations had already taken place at the address, and other works were still in progress," prosecutor Andrew Smith said.
Midgley has also been obtaining quotes for a further extensions to the property, he said. Police also found about £5,000 in the house, a number of 'expensive items' in the garden shed and three 'expensive watches'.
Midgley's passport revealed he'd travelled to Dubai a few months earlier. Speaking of the EncroChat messages which led to his downfall, his barrister Adam Watkins said: "Mr Midgley and others didn't think for a moment they would be read by the police, let alone in a court of law."
He described Midgley as a 'family man', with two children from a 'long-standing' relationship. But he was also said to be 'troubled', after witnessing the murder of a friend while aged in his 20s.
He since suffered from anxiety and depression. Mr Watkins' said Midgley's family will also suffer as a result of his incarceration.
"He is acutely conscious that he is letting others down," the lawyer said. Speaking of Midgley's drug dealing, the judge, Recorder Michael Blakey, told him: "You were conducting that business with many other willing participants. The dealing of such amounts led to significant financial reward for you and no doubt many others."
After outlining the home improvements and expensive items recovered from his home, the judge added: "All of this was a consequence of you dealing in drugs."
Midgley, of Dinsdale Close, Miles Platting, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine. He will serve half of his sentence in prison.
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