A drug dealer who used the pseudonym ‘Skint Harry’ has been unmasked after sending texts about his cars, family and addresses. George Powell was arrested at Manchester Airport after being caught out by detectives using messaging platform EncroChat.
The 40-year-old from Southport was detained on July 21 last year and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Powell, of Hillside Road, Southport, was involved in a plot to supply 9kg of cocaine and 5kg of heroin between March and June 2020. Yesterday he was jailed for 12 years at Liverpool Crown Court.
Detective Inspector Peter McCullough said. “Powell’s Encrochat messages revealed his clear involvement as a leading figure in drug conspiracies that could have caused suffering to families and residents in our community.
“His messages clearly identified him as the user of the ‘skint-harry’ Encrochat handle, which showed his involvement in conspiring to supply significant amounts of cocaine and heroin, causing misery to the people of Merseyside and potentially beyond.
"We know the destruction that drug supply causes and Merseyside Police remains relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and to bring down serious and organised criminal groups.”
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