A heroin and cocaine trafficker who used the pseudonym "Mr Royal Blue" as he conducted his shady dealings over EncroChat shook his head and sighed as he was locked up today.
Michael Hannan secretly traded wholesale quantities of Class A and B drugs via the encrypted communications platform in partnership with the likes of "Informal Dog" and "Organic Yak". But the 33-year-old convicted robber and burglar is now beginning another lengthy spell behind bars after the supposedly secure network was compromised.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday that the dad-of-two was identified as the user of the handle "MrRoyalBlue" after EncroChat was infiltrated by law enforcement during 2020. William Beardmore, prosecuting, described how his messages revealed that he had been involved in discussions to supply at least 2kg of cocaine, 2kg of heroin, 30kg of cannabis and 20kg amphetamine.
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Hannan, of no fixed address but from Norris Green, would source kilo amounts of Class A drugs before either selling them on with a £500 mark up or adulterate that illicit substances with cutting agents. He was found to have been in communication with 28 other users during the roughly two-month period in which data was captured – including "WiredFork", "SaltFly", "LousySteak", "WaspScarf, "InformalDog", "FlayingCarp", "TheDog", "OrganicYak" and "RacyOcelot" – and had a total of 76 handles stored in his Enrco phone.
Mr Beardmore added: "The defendant was a wholesaler of kilo amounts of drugs. He would either sell on for small margins himself or break them down into smaller amounts, after being adulterated, to sell on for profit."
Hannah has 16 previous convictions for 46 offences, including robbery and burglary. However, his criminal record has no entries for drugs matters and none at all since 2017.
Daniel Travers, defending, told the court: "It is a marketplace and he was trying to sell drugs. It may be that, on the scale of EncroChat drug dealers, he was not as successful as some.
"In the EncroChat world, this is one of the shorter sentences. There is some genuine remorse here. He is sadly separated from his children. He is supported by his family.
"It is a difficult period for them. They are all anxious for him.
"Their letters speak highly of another side, of his good character. He was a good footballer, and he has used his love, passion and skills to assists others in the community.
"He realises at his age what he probably should have learned a little while ago. He wants to come out of custody and a get a normal job."
Hannah admitted conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis. He shook his head in the dock and let out a deep sigh as he was jailed for eight years and four months this afternoon, then blew kisses to his supporters in the public gallery as he was led down to the cells.
Sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall said: "This business operated on a more ad hoc basis when drugs were available. In custody, you have reflected on how you have wasted your life by committing crimes and you have indicated remorse."
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