A cocaine kingpin nicknamed 'Titch.com' was connected to a major drugs trafficking plot after police discovered a garish mural of Irish UFC star, Conor McGregor, in his home.
Ryan Palin, 37, was identified as a major supplier of cocaine, heroin and amphetamines after an Encrochat encrypted phone network was hacked by French and Dutch authorities.
Detectives linked Palin, who had the handle 'Titch.com', to the gang after uncovering the painting at his home in Mereworth, Wirral, and matched with images shared on his Encrochat device - also used to arrange the supply of 700kg of cocaine, 15kg or heroin and 40kg of amphetamines.
READ MORE: 'On, power fat sizes': Texts that led to downfall of 22-year-old criminal
He was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs at Liverpool Crown Court in June last year after a trial and was jailed for 29 years, the ECHO reports.
During a hearing to check on the progress of proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), to seize any assets funded by his criminal lifestyle, the court heard that Palin 'had no money' to fund the court proceedings himself.
This was despite the fact his trial heard that on December 9, 2021, officers found designer clothing worth £136,000 and watches worth £129,000. Pictures released by Merseyside Police show Rolex watches, Balenciaga clothes and Chanel handbags, all of which were seized.
Palin appeared via video-link from prison, and told the court he was not legally represented. He told the Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Andrew Menary, KC, that he had not been aware of the hearing until prison officers fetched him from his cell.
He said: "My family is in the process now of speaking to a new legal team." He said his previous lawyers stopped representing him after the trial and he had been unaware of the POCA case.
Judge Menary asked why he was no longer represented. He replied: "I have got no money to fund it myself." Judge Menary agreed to set a new timetable and allow Palin to seek new lawyers. There will be a further hearing on June 26.
Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Merseyside Police said Palin’s arrest formed part of an operation involving European law enforcement agencies working with the National Crime Agency (NCA), and supported across the UK by police forces and Regional Organised Crime Units.
Detective Sergeant Graeme Kehoe said at the time: "We welcome the verdict and sentence and now that Ryan Palin is behind bars and can no longer peddle huge amounts of drugs and misery on the streets of Merseyside and beyond.
"Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Palin chose to go to trial. Fortunately the jury saw through his lies and Palin can now consider the consequences of his actions while he serves a significant time in jail.
"Palin’s substantial sentence should serve as a stark warning to anyone involved in this criminality that there are serious consequences. We simply won’t let people live off the profits of criminality while our law-abiding communities work hard to make an honest living - we will find you and bring you to justice.
"Merseyside Police, along with law enforcement agencies across the world, will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of those people who think they are above the law, and we will continue to target anyone involved in serious organised crime to keep this positive momentum going.
"We rely on our local communities to be our eyes and ears as part of these investigations and I would continue to urge people to come forward if they have information which could assist us."
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
- Lap dancing club is allowed to stay open despite claims it makes Manchester look 'seedy'
- Disgusting thug boasted of being a 'wife beater' as he repeatedly strangled girlfriend
- 'I was branded an attention seeker by my GP - I actually had a deadly condition'
- Romantic beauty spots in Greater Manchester to visit this Valentine’s Day
- Boy, 14, who died during police chase was driving car that had been stolen in armed robbery, inquest hears
