A Wigan drug dealer who belittled hard-working people as "rat race people" was caught by police trying to flee naked over a garden fence. Jake Lowe, 28, from Manchester Road, Wigan, was one of two drug dealers jailed for selling cannabis between February and June this year. The other man was 30-year-old Joseph Knockton, from Rainhill, Merseyside.
Project Medusa raids
On July 23, warrants were executed at their addresses by police as part of 'Project Medusa'. An investigation found that both men had been using a dedicated WhatsApp group and Instagram account to advertise and sell drugs, with messages showing the pair arranged sales of more than nine kilos of cannabis over a 26-day period.
The messages recovered from their phones revealed Lowe complaining about being stuck in traffic during rush hour, and texting "all rat race people going to work making me late", said Merseyside Police.
Sophisticated postal operation
The raid at Lowe's address uncovered a sophisticated illegal postal operation, police said. Officers discovered black bin bags containing thousands of packages featuring cannabis branding, which were used to distribute drugs sold online.
Police also recovered more than 4kg of cannabis, valued at around £66,000, along with a smaller quantity of cocaine. Cash, mobile phones, a knuckle duster and a Taser were also seized.
Naked escape attempt
Footage shared by Merseyside Police reveals that while officers were carrying out the warrant, Lowe tried to escape through a window naked but was quickly detained after being found perched on a fence nearby.
The video appears to show a female officer pointing a PAVA spray cannister at Lowe as he pleaded, "There's a big drop. Please love" before finally climbing down and being detained.
Further evidence of the drug-dealing operation was recovered during a search of Knockton's address on Braithwaite Close in Rainhill. Officers also seized a Rolex watch and £30,000 in cash, said police.
Sentencing
At an earlier hearing, Lowe pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession with intent to supply cannabis, possession of cocaine and possession of criminal property. Knockton pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis and possession of criminal property.
On Monday September 21 at Liverpool Crown Court, Lowe was sentenced to four years imprisonment and Knockton was sentenced to three years in prison.
Detective Chief Inspector Gary Stratton, from Project Medusa, said: "This was a sophisticated drug-dealing operation set up by Lowe and Knockton. We found bin bags full of plastic containers bearing their drug branding, which they used to sell drugs online.
"The turnover they generated is estimated to have been in the region of £150,000 a month, so this is a great result. We have intercepted two drug dealers who thought they were above the law and who were prepared to peddle their filth online.
"Thankfully, they pleaded guilty to their crimes and are now behind bars. Hopefully they will reflect on the misery they have helped to cause families and communities by flooding the streets with drugs.
"Serious organised crime groups are a massive blight on our communities. Drugs are closely linked to serious violence, including firearm and knife crime.
"I hope this sentencing demonstrates that Merseyside Police will leave no stone unturned in pursuing those who believe they are above the law. We will continue to target criminals by thoroughly examining any evidence, messages and images we uncover."
