The nephew of one-eyed double cop killer Dale Cregan has been jailed after police unmasked him as a drug pusher who calls himself ''Bad Man”.
Oscar Cregan, 20, helped set up a cocaine trafficking racket in his neighbourhood after returning to the UK following a stint in hiding in Spain with his family.
He was arrested during a stop and search in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester in March last year and was found in possession of two Nokia burner phones used to peddle cocaine and also morphine.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard whilst detained he was caught scratching the words "fk Greater Manchester Police " and "Oscar Cregan is a bad man" on a door at Forest Bank prison in Salford.
Oscar blamed his crimes on living under the shadow of his uncle, who is currently serving four whole life sentences for the murders of WPCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes plus a father and son in 2012
But a judge rejected his pleas and jailed him for three years, saying there were ''many people in similar circumstances who live law-abiding lives.''
Stuart Neale, prosecuting said: "On the 9th of November 2021, the defendant and another unknown individual entered a pawn shop in Manchester.
"The pair walked towards the counter and asked the store assistant if they could try on a Rolex valued at £5,000 that was behind a glass display case.
''As the assistant gave the pair the watch, they waited for a second and ran out of the shop into the street. The pair were captured on CCTV and their description was ascertained and provided to Greater Manchester Police.
''On the 15th of March 2022, the defendant was approached by two PC's who noted that he matched the description and was stopped and searched. The officers found £320 in cash and two Nokia burner phones on his person.
"He was arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs and later analysis of the two phones uncovered text messages that were indicative of the defendant's involvement in drug supply.
''The messages showed he was involved in the supply of class A drugs, including cocaine and morphine. However, he was not found with any drugs on his persons. When he was detained at HMP Forest Bank. A prison officer noticed that the defendant was stood apart from other detainees in the exercise yard.
''He stood with one hand up and when he was told to turn around the office noticed that the defendant had scratched graffiti onto a door.
Cregan, who has one previous referral order for cannabis possession in 2018 admitted criminal damage, theft and intent to supply drugs.
Oscar had fled to Malaga with Kelly, older brother Oli, now 22, and his twin sisters Annie and Alice in 2015 after cocaine dealer Dale was convicted of murder.
At the time Kelly said the family were in fear of revenge attacks from associates of gangland rivals Mark and David Short after another relative had phone threats that acid would be thrown in her face.
Mark Short, 23, was shot dead by Dale in a pub in Droylsden, east Manchester, as he played pool while his father, 46, was shot and finished off with a grenade at his home in nearby Clayton.
Kelly had to find news schools for Oscar and his siblings in Spain whilst in hiding on the Costa Del Sol. It is thought they returned to Britain in 2018.
In mitigation his lawyer Daniel Calder said: "I'm sure everyone in court today is aware of the back story to this defendant's life, particularly relating to his uncle, Dale Cregan.
''He was nine years old when his uncle was sent to prison for life. This led to his family being placed under extreme media attention.
“This has caused the entire family much trauma and disruption and he in particular has had to deal with the burdens and barriers that this has brought. He even had to relocate to Spain for a number of years in an attempt to rescue his education.
"His actions are all a product of the uniquely challenging circumstances in which he grew up. “He has kept regular employment throughout his life, mainly as a labourer but he fell into the familiar pattern of debt dependency that often leads to drug dealing as a way of settling these debts."
In sentencing Judge Mark Savill said: "The defendant is a young man born into circumstances, not of his own but there are many people who have been in similar circumstances that have still gone on to live law-abiding lives.
“Although you were 18 at the time of the offences, that age is not a cliff edge and at that time you were well over the cusp and considerably mature.
''I am hard pushed to accept that you and your accomplice went into the pawn shop that day for a genuine reason other than to steal. Especially considering that the watch you stole had a value of £5000.
"Although you were not found with drugs on your person during the search it was clear that you operated a drug supply ring for serious class A drugs.
“However, I believe that there were higher forces in your dealings which places your involvement at a lesser role."
