A Liverpool criminal told an associate he had been selling drugs since he was just 14 years old.
Last week Brian Thomas Maxwell, 35, and his dad Brian Maxwell senior, 54, were jailed for over 30 years as a result of the police penetration of the EncroChat network. The father and son ran a nationwide drug network.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how Brian junior used the Encro network to try and source high powered weapons after he was blamed for the theft of drugs from a rival gang. Brian junior, who already had two guns, attempted to buy an AK47, an AR-15 type semi-automatic rifle, a Grand Power pistol and a Walther PPK handgun.
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The court also heard how Brian Junior, sent a message to an associate when he boasted about his experience as a drug dealer. The message read: "I have been grafting since I was 14."
Graft and grafting are slang terms for selling drugs. Maxwell junior received his first prison sentence in October 2005. Maxwell, then 18, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply crack cocaine. He also admitted possession of a bladed article and was jailed for 30 months.
In February 2008 he received a three month prison sentence for production of Class A drugs and possession of Class C Drugs. In September 2015 he was jailed for 30 months after he admitted being concerned in the production of cannabis.
In May 2019 he was jailed for nine weeks after being found guilty of using violence to enter premises.
The ECHO understands that Maxwell junior grew up in the Harstsbourne Avenue area of Childwall. In recent years he is said to have associated with dangerous criminals from the Childwall area.
Judge David Aubrey, QC described Maxwell junior and his dad as 'professional drug dealers' who were involved in UK wide conspiracies. Damian Nolan, defending Maxwell junior, told the court how the police operation which jailed the father and son probably saved his client's life.
Mr Nolan said there had been a plot to 'assassinate Maxwell junior and his family.' He said a rival crime group 'had obtained hand grenades to attack the family of Maxwell junior, assassinating him and his family.'
Maxwell junior is thought to have been buying guns to defend himself from the imminent attack, telling associates he was prepared to use violence to defend himself. In one EncroChat message he said: "As soon as I see a opportunity to get one of them and not put any of us in danger trust me there getting it."
Maxwell senior, of Stockswell Road, Tarbock Green, and Maxwell junior, of Ditchfield Road, Widnes, had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply diamorphine, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine and conspiracy to produce cannabis.
Maxwell junior admitted conspiring to possess, purchase or acquire prohibited firearms, between March 27, 2020 and June 6, 2020. He also admitted possession of prohibited firearms.
Maxwell junior was jailed for 18 years and four months and Maxwell senior for 13 years and four months. The hearing took place on April 1.
