5 days ago
Salford gangster Jamie Rothwell sentenced to 43 years
Salford gangster Jamie Rothwell has been sentenced to 43 years after ordering underworld hits, arranging huge drug deals and the sale of guns from his Spanish bolthole.
Rothwell was exposed after European law enforcement hacked into the EncroChat encrypted communications network, a system used by organised crime across the continent. The 38-year-old became one of the National Crime Agency's most wanted after messages revealed he had organised a shooting in Warrington in furtherance of a gangland feud, while he lived in a plush apartment in Barcelona.
But the net eventually closed in on Rothwell and he was brought back to the UK to face justice. He was sentenced today at Manchester Crown Court, appearing by video link from HMP Wakefield.
Rothwell had been brought to court yesterday (Weds) under armed guard to listen to his barrister make submissions to the judge on his behalf. His lawyer claimed that Rothwell is 'tired' of his life of crime and wants to help young people avoid taking his path.
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Rothwell had pleaded guilty to a series of gun and drug offences. He received a total sentence of 43 years. His sentence is comprised of a total of 18 years for drugs offences, and a consecutive 25 year extended sentence for firearms offences. The extended sentence includes 21 years in prison and an extra four years on licence.
Sentencing, Judge John Potter told him: "Mr Rothwell, you have lived much of your life as a professional criminal involved in serious organised crime.
"The offences you fall to be sentenced for graphically illustrate your willingness to follow this path and cause loss and misery to others as you do so. You issued orders to others and you expected them to be obeyed. I heard evidence from your co-accused that they feared you.
"You obtained wealth by having access to millions of pounds of cash." The judge said that Rothwell, who lived in Spain and Portugal, had dealt over 200 kilos of cocaine and five kilos of ketamine, with the cocaine alone said to be worth £7 million.
Rothwell was a leading light in the Salford gang feud which erupted between 2014 and 2019 between rival outfits the A Team and the Anti A-Team. Rothwell was said to be the right-hand-man of Michael Carroll, the alleged leader of the Anti A-Team, in opposition to the A-Team, said to be led by Stephen Britton. Gangster Paul Massey was said to be Britton's mentor.
Rothwell was shot at a car wash in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, in March 2015 as part of the feud. A gunman sprayed bullets at him but Rothwell miraculously survived. In July that year, Massey was shot dead outside his home in Salford by Mark Fellows, an Anti A-Team associate nicknamed The Iceman.
Months later, in October, seven-year-old Christian Hickey was shot at his doorstep as the A Team sought revenge in a botched hit, thought to have been targeting the schoolboy's father, a close associate of Carroll. Rothwell was extradited back to the UK from Spain in June 2020 following the EncroChat hack.
Months later, in October that year, Rothwell went on trial at Manchester Crown Court alongside four other men, including Mark Fellows, accused of conspiring to murder two A Team associates, after one was shot in February 2015 and the other attacked with a machete in March that year.
Rothwell was found not guilty of all charges. At some point after his acquittals, Rothwell left the country. He was arrested in Amsterdam on December 14, 2020, before being extradited back to the UK in March 2021 after police obtained a European Arrest Warrant.
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In connection with the EncroChat case, Rothwell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life; one count of conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class A, namely cocaine; two counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and a single count of conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class B, namely ketamine.
He pleaded not guilty to five other charges. They were two counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent; two counts of conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class A, namely diamorphine and cannabis and a single count of possession of criminal property, namely money. Rothwell had been on trial last year after denying a series of charges, but the case was adjourned after he was stabbed in prison.
Nine other men are also being sentenced as part of Rothwell's case.
