A father who moved to the Scottish Highlands seeking a fresh start away from a life of crime instead orchestrated more than 2,000 drug deals under the pseudonym 'Scouse Kenny'. Jamie Horgan's 'foolish' actions were uncovered after he gave his phone number to a police officer.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday that an investigation into county lines drug dealing identified a phone number advertising class A drugs for sale under the nickname 'Scouse Kenny'. The device was located in the Inverness area on March 4 last year, when it sent 50 texts over a 40-minute period.
Prosecutor Samuel Barker described how the phone was later placed in the Speke area two days later, according to cell site data. The number operated in both Liverpool and Scotland over the following five months, sending bulk messages to alert potential customers about the availability of heroin and crack cocaine until Horgan's arrest in September.
Horgan, of no fixed address but previously of Hardman Street in Liverpool city centre, had been present when police attended an address on July 9. He was required to give his personal phone number to officers because he was on licence at the time. This device was subsequently found to co-locate with the Scouse Kenny phone 'at least 19 times', as was a hire car leased in his name.
His criminal record includes 21 previous convictions for 59 offences, including eight months for dangerous driving in December 2025 and an eight-year sentence for a string of burglaries in 2021.
Defence lawyer Carmel Wilde told the court: 'The defendant indicates that his life was in a bad time at the time of this offending. He had various family issues. He accepts that he was frustrated and was not in the right place mentally. Clearly, in custody, he is able to remain drug free. He accepts that this was a very foolish thing to do. Ironically, he said he moved away from Liverpool to try and get out of trouble and away from peer influences, but, unfortunately, he got involved with others.'
Wilde added: 'In custody he is trying to better himself, undertaking courses with psychologists to assist his rehabilitation. He is employed as a wing cleaner. Clearly, he is behaving himself while in custody and he has the support of his partner of six years. He simply wishes to know his fate and be able to get his head down and continue his rehabilitation whilst in custody.'
Horgan admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. Appearing via video link to HMP Garth wearing a grey Berghaus tracksuit top and shorts, he was jailed for three years.
Sentencing, Recorder Andrew Vinson said: 'You operated county lines drugs graft phones, originally operating in Scotland but moving down to Liverpool, during which time just short of 2,300 deals took place. You had an operational function in the manning of that phone. You must have had some awareness of the scale of the operation. You were supplying directly to end users. The offences were committed while you were on licence. You have previous convictions. The only drug offence dates as far back as 2010 and is for simple possession.'
He continued: 'I note that, at the time of this offending, you were having family difficulties with the mother of your 10-year-old child. You were struggling financially. You were dealing with your own cocaine use and had moved to Scotland to remove yourself from negative influences in Liverpool. Unfortunately, you did not succeed. You are undertaking various courses in maths, English and other matters. Those are to your credit, and you are using your time in prison wisely.'
