A Liverpool businessman and his younger brother used the EncroChat phone network to supply Class A drugs.
Martin Grant, 33, is a former managing director of Liverpool-based health and safety company Safety Support Consultants Limited (SSC). There is no suggestion that his crimes were in any way linked to his role at SSC.
Grant, originally from the Old Swan area, joined the company in September 2019 and resigned in January 2020. Today Liverpool Crown Court heard how the Grant brothers both used the EncroChat network to supply drugs.
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Ben Jones, prosecuting, told the court how Martin Grant's nickname was 'Skin' and his younger brother Liam Grant, 25, was known as 'Lil skin.' Mr Jones said that Martin used the Encro handle Swiftorchid and Liam used the handle Beigeplam.
Mr Jones said that Martin Grant was linked to over 26 kilos of cocaine, 21 kilos of heroin, 300 kilos of amphetamine and six kilograms of cannabis. Mr Jones described Liam Grant was a 'wholesale cannabis dealer' linked to around 16kg of the drug worth £70,000 and a small amount of cocaine.
Mr Jones described how both men were linked directly to their respective Encro handles. In the case of Liam Grant there was reference to his nickname 'lil skin', his criminal past and to his long term partner. Martin Grant was linked to his handle through reference to his home address, mum's birthday and to his criminal record.
Liam Grant, of Holland Street in Fairfield, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply amphetamine and conspiracy to supply cannabis. His pleas related to a period time from September 5 2020 and September 30 2021.
Martin Grant has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply heroin, conspiracy to supply amphetamine and conspiracy to supply cannabis. Grant had admitted being involved in drug conspiracies between September 6 2019 and April 27 2021.
Judge Denis Watson told Liam Grant that the supply of cannabis caused harm to society by leaving addicts with mental health issues.
He jailed Liam Grant, of Holland Street in Fairfield, to four years and six months. Judge Watson told him that he would serve half the sentence in prison.
Barrister Michael Scholes, defending Liam Grant, described his client as a 'wannabe' who was not involved in criminality to the same degree as his older brother. Mr Scholes said that Liam Grant was a cannabis wholesaler and broker who had become briefly involved in Class A drugs.
Martin Grant will be sentenced next month.
