Akeel Knight-Pascoe, a 33-year-old former railway engineer from Whalley Range, has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years after admitting a series of drug offences, including dealing class A drugs and possessing criminal property. He ran at least four drug lines named after characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game, targeting university students and large events such as Parklife.
The Drug Lines and Their Reach
Knight-Pascoe, known as 'Knuckles', operated lines named Sonic, Knuckles, Tails and Shadow. He promoted the lines on Snapchat and also used business cards and lighters containing contact details. His team of dealers mainly targeted university students in Fallowfield, south Manchester, but also supplied drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, 2CB and magic mushrooms at events like Parklife, Manchester Crown Court was told.
Prosecutor Gemma Maxwell said the operation was 'on a commercial scale' and for 'substantial financial gain'. The drugs line was named after Sonic the Hedgehog, and Knight-Pascoe regularly sent 'flare' messages on WhatsApp advertising drugs and offering special deals for Parklife.
Arrests and Evidence
Police first arrested Knight-Pascoe in Fallowfield in February 2022 after spotting him on a mountain bike and detecting the smell of cannabis. He ran off but was caught on Landcross Road. On him, police found drugs including ecstasy and cocaine worth up to £700, lighters marketing the 'Sonic' line, and a plastic bag containing six mobile phones with numerous messages related to drug supply. He denied running the line and the alias 'Knuckles' and was released on bail.
While still on bail, he was arrested again in May 2025 after staff at a Travelodge on Ducie Street became concerned about the smell of cannabis from his room. Searches of the room and his home found cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, 2CB, cannabis, magic mushrooms and Xanax. More phones, 'Sonic' business cards and a lighter with his Snapchat handle were also seized. Analysis of the phones revealed three other lines, 'Shadow', 'Knuckles' and 'Tails', operating since April 2022.
Gang Members Sentenced
Knight-Pascoe's brother, Lawreem Knight-Pascoe, 27, a father of three, took over management when Akeel was remanded. Lawreem, who had previous convictions for supplying drugs, was arrested and told police: "Although I was not pressured to do this, I felt I was looking out for my family by helping my brother." He was jailed for four years.
Ellesse Fricker, 27, a cleaner from Oldham, was found with cannabis plants at her home. She made efforts to restart the line while Akeel was in custody. She was sentenced to two years and eight months. Jilane Eldwardmichy, 24, a Selfridges worker from Salford, took phones for Akeel and was 'involved in the management of the drugs lines'. She received a two-year suspended sentence, 20 days of rehabilitation and 120 hours of unpaid work.
Mohamoud Maou, from Blackley, worked as a street dealer for a wage. Police found a BB gun and a magazine at his home. He received a 22-month suspended sentence. Khyron Waldron, 21, from Hulme, was found with drugs, paraphernalia and three 'Zombie-style' knives. He also received a 22-month suspended sentence.
Sentencing, the Recorder of Manchester Judge Nicholas Dean KC said: "This case has Akeel Knight-Pascoe at its heart. For approximately three years, the reality is that Mr Knight-Pascoe ran a business selling class A, B and C drugs. The range of product sold by Akeel Knight-Pascoe was considerable and really unusual in the pantheon of drug dealing."
