The nephew of double cop killer Dale Cregan has been jailed for drug dealing and theft. Oscar Cregan, 20, who calls himself "bad man" 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.
Whilst being detained he was caught scratching the words “f**k Greater Manchester Police” and “Oscar Cregan is a bad man” on a door in the exercise yard at Forest Bank prison in Salford. It emerged he had also stolen a £5,000 Rolex watch from a pawn shop.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Oscar - the youngest son of Dale Cregan's sister Kelly - blamed his crimes on living under the shadow of his uncle, now 39, who is currently serving four whole life sentences for the gun and grenade murders of WPCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes plus a father and son during a murderous rampage 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'.
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 the Cotton Tree pub in Droylsden, as he played pool while his father David, 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.
Oscar Cregan’s drug dealing activities were discovered when he was searched as part of an investigation into the theft of a Rolex Yachtmaster watch worth £5,000 from a pawnbroker in Plymouth.
Based on CCTV and images circulated nationwide following the theft of the expensive watch, Cregan was searched and found to be wearing the same the jacket he wore when carrying out the offence. He also had a Rolex watch on his wrist, although it wasn’t believed to be the one that had been stolen from Plymouth.
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 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. These messages showed that the defendant had been running a local drug ring for the last three months.
''The messages showed that 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 officer noticed that the defendant had scratched graffiti onto a door reading 'f**k Greater Manchester Police' and 'Oscar Cregan is a bad man'. The cost of the damage to the door is estimated to be £595.”
Cregan who has one previous referral order for cannabis possession in 2018 admitted criminal damage, theft and intent to supply drugs.
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 bought. 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."
He told Oscar: ''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 of than to steal. Especially considering that the watch you stole had a value of £5,000.
”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.”
Cregan received three years in a Young Offender’s Institute for being concerned in the supply of cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin, theft of the Rolex in Plymouth and criminal damage in Forest Bank when he appeared in court via video link on Thursday.
DC Daniel Riley, of Greater Manchester Police's Economic Crime Unit, said: “This result was a fantastic example of all the police forces in the UK working together to identify, prosecute and convict criminals, who think nothing of committing crimes, no matter where they are.
“We are very grateful to all of those involved, which has led to a drug dealer being taken off the streets of Tameside.
“We would urge anyone who has information regarding drug dealing activities taking place in the district of Tameside, to come forward and report them to us on 101 or via the LiveChat Function on our website www.gmp.police.uk.
“You can also report your concerns anonymously through the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.
