Neil Kettle has been put behind bars for 11 years
Neil Kettle has been put behind bars for 11 years
An Encrochat handler who fled to the Netherlands, has been jailed after he gave away his identity by referencing his hobby as a pigeon fancier. Neil Kettle, of Speakman Way, Prescot, who was extradited from the Netherlands in January this year, was jailed yesterday, Tuesday, April 22, for conspiring to supply cocaine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis.
Kettle, 36, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs at Liverpool Crown Court and was yesterday sentenced to 11 years in prison.
He is the latest man in Merseyside to be jailed as part of Operation Venetic – an international operation targeting criminals who used a mobile encryption service to try to evade detection.
His sentencing came following a complex investigation where he was identified as being the user of the Encrochat handle ‘storkwarrior’ after he provided his personal details on multiple occasions on the encryption device, including his mobile number, and referenced his hobby as a pigeon fancier.
Kettle also made references to his daughter, his address and vehicles which were registered and insured to him. His Encrochat handle evidenced that between March and June 2020, he conspired to supply 36kg of cocaine, 6kg of heroin, 2kg of amphetamine, 150kg of cannabis, and 1kg of ketamine.
After he was arrested in the Netherlands earlier this year, he was subsequently returned to the UK the following month, where Matrix officers from Merseyside Police arrested him at Heathrow Airport.
Detective Inspector James Boardman said: “The Encrochat messages clearly demonstrated that Kettle played a leading role in supplying Class A and B drugs.
“Serious organised crime gangs are a blight on our communities where drugs are closely linked to serious violence, involving firearm and knife crime.
“I hope this sentencing shows that Merseyside Police will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of people who think they are above the law, and we will continue to target criminals by thoroughly examining any evidence, messages and images we find.”
Anyone with information on suspected drug production or criminal activity in their community can contact @MerPolCC, call 101 or come forward anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.
Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here.
Follow us on X @LivECHONews – the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account – real news in real time. We’re also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho – your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
