A criminal who began selling drugs days after his release from prison sent pictures of parties in his own back garden on an EncroChat phone.
Martin Grant, 33, was jailed for over 14 years on Friday, June 10, after Liverpool Crown Court heard he began using an EnroChat phone shortly after he was released from prison on licence. Grant, a father-of-two originally from Old Swan, specialised in high quality cocaine imported from Bolivia and Cocaine.
Police were able to link Grant to the EncroChat handle SwiftOrchid after they identified pictures of his home on the device. Grant, who lived in the Southport area, sent pictures of a bouncy castle on the device.
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He also sent pictures which showed some kind of social gathering, with bottles of Smirnoff Ice on a garden table. The pictures helped police link him to the Encro handle SwiftOrchid in a process known as attribution.
Grant was released from prison on licence in September 2019 after serving out a sentence for grievous bodily harm. Ben Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Grant began using the EncroChat network to sell drugs days after his release.
Grant had been jailed for ten years in 2015 after he slashed another man across the face leaving him with life changing injuries.
Mr Jones said it was clear that Grant was dealing with an individual or group who were importing Class A drugs into the UK. Their identify was not revealed.
Mr Jones said Grant acted as a "wholesale broker" and distributed Class A drugs to the midlands, Lancashire and Carlisle area. Last week the court heard how Grant's younger brother Liam used the Encro handle Beigepalm to supply cannabis. Liam Grant was jailed for four years and six months during an earlier hearing.
Martin Grant used the nickname “skin” and “skinny”, while his brother Liam had the nicknames “Lil Skin”.
The ECHO has previously revealed how Martin Grant was made managing director of Liverpool health and safety company SSC in September 2019. Grant resigned in January 2020. There is nothing to suggest his activity on the EncroChat network was linked to SSC.
Mr Jones told the court Grant had previous convictions for vehicle taking, blackmail, handling stolen goods, section 18 wounding and possession of an offensive weapon.
Martin Grant had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply heroin, conspiracy to supply amphetamine and conspiracy to supply cannabis.
Judge Denis Watson described Grant as a "broker for wholesale drugs" and linked him to 9.5kg of cocaine, 5kg of heroin, 30kg of amphetamine and six kilos of cannabis.
Judge Watson told Grant the fact he was on licence at the time of his offending was an aggravating factor. He jailed him for 14 years and six months.
Although the Grants were not convicted of any offences involving violence, analysis of their phones showed they were prepared to use violence to enforce their drug business.
District Crown Prosecutor Jonathan Egan, of CPS Mersey Cheshire's Complex Casework Unit, said: “Martin and Liam Grant were both heavily involved in the dangerous and illegal world of drug dealing.
“They worked together and ran their own illicit businesses – businesses that cause misery to both individuals and communities.
“The messages that were found on the phones showed they were prepared to use violence to protect their illegal trade. Merseyside Police and the Crown Prosecution Service built a strong case against these two men and they eventually pleaded guilty.
“Criminals thought they had beaten the authorities when they started using EncroChat phones but law enforcement agencies cracked the system and Liam and Martin Grant are just two of the many offenders who are now being brought to justice.”
