A 'family man' who was unmasked as a major drugs boss after sending pictures of £100,000 in cash and large blocks of cocaine has been jailed for 15 years. Darren Midgley, 40, was known as 'BigLobos' on the encrypted EncroChat platform and was a key figure in a criminal network profiting from cocaine.
Midgley, a father of two from Collyhurst, Manchester, was linked to at least 11.5 kilos of the class A drug. In one EncroChat exchange, he sent images of kilo blocks of cocaine and said: 'Better than I thought bro.' He also sent a picture of £100,000 in cash before a drugs deal.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Midgley was arrested at his home in Sudell Street, Collyhurst, in December last year. Police found extensive renovations at the property, along with £5,000 in cash, expensive items in the garden shed, and three expensive watches. Midgley had also been obtaining quotes for further extensions and had travelled to Dubai a few months earlier.
Midgley's barrister, Adam Watkins, described him as a 'family man' but said he was 'troubled' after witnessing the murder of a friend in his 20s, leading to anxiety and depression. Watkins noted that Midgley's family would suffer due to his incarceration.
Judge Recorder Michael Blakey told Midgley: 'You were conducting that business with many other willing participants. The dealing of such amounts led to significant financial reward for you and no doubt many others.' Midgley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and will serve half of his 15-year sentence in prison.
