A father and son who received threat to life warnings from police have been jailed for over 30 years.
Professional drug dealers Brian Maxwell, 54, and Brian Thomas Maxwell, 35, fell foul of a rival organised crime group who threatened violence. Today Liverpool Crown Court heard how the rival gang suspected Maxwell junior was involved in the theft of drugs that belonged to them.
On May 27 2020 the father and son received formal Osman warnings from Merseyside Police, which meant there was a threat to their lives. Nicola Daley, prosecuting, told the court how Maxwell junior tried to buy high powered weapons from criminal contacts in the underworld to defend himself from the threat.
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Ms Daley described how Maxwell junior used the Encrochat phone network to try and source what is thought to have been an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, an AK47, a Glock 17, a Grand Power pistol , a Walther PPK handgun and ammunition. Ms Daley said that Maxwell junior offered two Rolex watches to help pay for the guns and ammunition, and told his dad that he would need a locker to store the haul.
The court also heard that Maxwell junior already had two firearms to defend himself. In a message to an associate he said: "Got 2 straps on me lad might get me a 5 or a 7 for f*** all lad."
And Maxwell junior sent a message to his dad which read: "If I get nicked with a piece I’m in jail and these c**** still out hear giving every one stick. As soon as I see a opportunity to get one of them and not put any of us in danger trust me there getting it."
In another message Maxwell junior said that he had resorted to 'keep a machete on me' due to the threat to his life. At one point Maxwell junior asked his dad if he had any 'acid.'
The court heard that the father and son presided over a nationwide drug wholesale business and they both used the encrypted EncroChat phone network to organise their affairs. Maxwell senior used the handle 'RetiredVermouth' and his son used 'MediumRose' and 'Dior-Note.'
The two men were arrested in September 2021 as a result of information gained by the penetration of the EncroChat phone network.
Damian Nolan, defending Maxwell junior, told the court that the police operation 'had probably saved his life.'
Mr Nolan said there had been a plot to 'assassinate Maxwell junior and his family.' He said a rival crime group 'had obtained hand grenades to attack the family of Maxwell junior, assassinating him and his family.'
The court also heard how the penetration of the Encrochat network exposed the Maxwells roles as professional drug dealers.
Ms Daley described how the father and son operated at wholesale level in Class A drugs. Maxwell senior appeared to have been using an adulterant called 'ghost' to mix with cocaine. At one point the Liverpool dad was waiting for 250kg delivery of ghost.
Ms Daley said that just 10kg of the adulterant could create 25kg of street level cocaine. The two men also controlled a substantial cannabis farm operation. Maxwell senior managed a network of properties which were used to house their drug farms. Maxwell junior took a more hands on role in the cannabis production, buying equipment, plants and nutrients to help the plants grow.
Maxwell senior, of Stockswell Road, Tarbock Green, and Maxwell junior, of Ditchfield Road, Widnes, had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply diarmorphine, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine and conspiracy to produce cannabis.
Maxwell jnr admitted conspiring to possess, purchase or acquire prohibited firearms, between March 27, 2020 and June 6, 2020. He also admitted possession of prohibited firearms.
Judge David Aubrey, QC , told the father and son that they had assumed they were protected from the law through their use of Encrochat phones. He said: "The phones proved to be your downfall."
He jailed Maxwell junior for 18 years and four months and Maxwell senior for 13 years and four months. He told both men that they would serve half the sentences before they were released on license.
