He ran the lucrative 'Tommy' drugs line even from a police cell - then fled to the Caribbean
Nicholas Knowles, 32, from Ashton-under-Lyne, was the boss of the crime gang which ran the drugs line from 2013, supplying cocaine and heroin across Bury and beyond. At its height, the line was receiving a thousand texts and calls each week.
Knowles, of Bowness Road, denied conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine, but he was founding guilty following a four-week trial at Bolton Crown Court in 2018.
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While on bail, he faked illness to avoid going to court for his sentencing hearing and then fled the country. He was handed a 13-and-a-half-year prison sentence in his absence.
But today (June 2, 2025) Greater Manchester Police confirmed that, following an international manhunt, Knowles was captured in the Caribbean and extradited back the UK to face justice. He is now behind bars after being handed a further 34 weeks behind bars for his escape.
Detectives shut down the drugs line by May 2015, a police operation ending in the four other gang members being sentenced after admitting being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. Knowles was said to be the boss, making key decisions and controlling the day to day running of the gang since its inception in September 2013.
But his crimes began to unravel after he and another gang member were stopped in their car by police in January 2014. Officers seized £420 in cash and five mobile phones from the Knowles' pal. One of the devices contained a SIM card with a number for the Tommy line.
A week later, police raided the address of a known drug user where cops found Knowles' associate as well as 32 wraps of cocaine and 60 wraps of heroin with a mobile phone and £230 cash. A debtors' 'tick list' was also found in the battery compartment of the phone.
The following month, police stopped a car on Coronation Street in Radcliffe and, following a chase, officers uncovered cocaine, heroin, cash, another phone linked to the Tommy line and another 'tick list'. Among the photos on the device were incriminating pictures of Knowles, topless selfies.
The Tommy line was available for business every day of the week and in one week alone, in April 2014, it received a thousand texts and calls, according to GMP. By June 2014 police arrested Knowles on suspicion of a 'domestic related offence' which resulted in him being recalled to prison for a previous crime.
But when he was arrested he concealed a small mobile phone and, even while he was in custody at a police station cell awaiting transfer back to jail, Knowles continued to run the Tommy line business, right under the noses of cops.
Messages uncovered from this phone later showed he was attempting to get associates to hide 'criminal funds' as he knew cops were onto him, according to GMP.
He also sent a string of text messages to another Tommy line holder so the business could continue while he was in jail. Even while behind bars at Salford's Forest Bank prison, Knowles was able to keep in touch with his second in command, said the force.
One text from Knowles said: 'If you get nicked and you have got that phone you're f***ed.'
Knowles was released from prison in August 2014 and the Tommy drugs line 'came to life' again but with a new handset, according to GMP.
Knowles was arrested again in a BMW along with another gang member following an 80mph police chase in September 2014. Drugs had been discarded during the pursuit but later recovered by a police dog. Another phone was examined and analysis revealed it was the fourth Tommy line.
Other gang members pleaded guilty and were sentenced at Bolton Crown Court in December 2016 and January 2017.
Following the bringing to justice of the gang's leader Knowles, Detective Inspector Ian Toole, said: 'We are pleased to report that Knowles has been in court to face justice at last after attempting to run away from the justice system, and has now been sentenced.'His actions and the actions of the crime group blighted our local community and exploited vulnerable people further afield.'On the day of his sentencing in 2014, he pretended to be ill and using this as an opportunity to flee the country which started an international manhunt to locate him.'No matter how much time has passed, we won't give up on finding you. We were assisted using our partner agencies to drag him back to the UK to face justice.'If you are a criminal that has fled the UK to live in another country and thinks they can enjoy a life of luxury, you can't, we will find you and bring you back to face justice. It is only a matter of time before there will be a knock at your door and you will be dragged back here to face justice.'
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