These are the latest ECHO headlines this morning.
England player turned drug boss lived high life with dealer 'Led Zeppelin'
A money launderer who worked as an accountant for a drug gang enjoyed a glamorous lifestyle with her then partner.
Former England player Faye Dunn, 38, was jailed for three years and nine months last week after Liverpool Crown Court heard she was a money launderer for a drug gang.
The former professional footballer became involved in the underworld when her business ventures began to falter due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Dunn, who once played for Tranmere Rovers, began using the EncroChat phone network to launder money and supply cannabis.
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Dunn, well known in the Huyton area, was arrested at Manchester Airport in June on suspicion of drug offences. The mum was arrested as part of the police penetration of the EncroChat network codenamed Operation Venetic.
The court heard that Dunn used the EncroChat handle 'StiffNinja' to communicate with a user known as 'LedZeppelin'. Court documents seen by the ECHO reveal that Liverpool man Stephen Canty used the LedZeppelin handle.
Barrister Nicola Daley told the court on April 2, 2020 Dunn sent a tick list to Mr Canty, showing an income of £1,155,548, and details of expenditure worth £431,700. Ms Daley said that the list included £100,000 spent on a house, £25,000 on cars and £21,500 on a watch.
Read the full story here.
Dad who 'never thought of himself' died after wife spotted worrying sign
Tributes have been paid to a "kind" and "amazing" dad who died from Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
Andy Sale from Childwall lost his battle with cancer in December of last year. He had moved to Spain in 2020 with his wife Denise after 30 years of service as a firefighter for Merseyside Fire and Rescue.
Andy collapsed with stomach pains in December 2020 and was taken to hospital where after three months of tests he was diagnosed with cancer. Andy initially wanted to stay in Spain to "keep his dream alive" but was convinced by his family to move back to the UK in 2021 after facing £10,000 a month hospital bills.
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His wife Denise said she was "lucky to have him as a husband" and they never spent "any time apart". They met at 18 and were together for 37 years.
She said: "He loved life and was dedicated to his family. He was so proud of everything his kids did and loved our big family dinners on a Sunday. Every single person he met would get a hug whether they liked it or not and everyone on his watch would vouch for that.
"He would never start his shift or end one without giving everyone a hug it was just how he was, he loved everybody. His motto was 'you may never have another tomorrow'."
Read more here.
Darren Gee 'threatened by man with hammer' in bizarre videos
A former gang leader who amassed a cult following on social media since being released from prison carried on recording as he was attacked by a man with a hammer.
Darren Gee, 42, a former member of a notorious drug-dealing crew which caused misery in Everton's Grizedale estate, was jailed in 2006 for ordering the murder of 36-year-old David Regan, shot dead outside an Old Swan car wash in May, 2004. He later admitted he mistakenly believed Mr Regan had ordered a bungled hit on Gee carried out by former SAS soldier Darren Waterhouse, which killed his friend, Craig Barker, and wounded his brother, Ian Gee.
However it later emerged Waterhouse had been hired by drug dealer William Moore. Gee served 18 years for conspiring to commit Mr Regan's murder, and has said he accepts he 'wasted his life' and bitterly regrets the decisions he made when he was involved in serious crime.
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Since his release, he has gained a following on Youtube, TikTok and Instagram, the latter platform which has 48,000 followers watching his sometimes serious, sometimes tongue-in-cheek videos often warning others not to get involved in drugs or gang crime.
On Sunday, September 11, Gee uploaded a series of videos taken in Birmingham city centre, showing him arguing with a man and woman who appeared to mistakenly believe Gee was filming them as he recorded a livestream on his phone. The couple emerged from a boat moored in a canal behind where Gee was standing.
Read the full story here.
