In a striking case of criminal carelessness, a former professional footballer has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment after police discovered the password to his encrypted criminal phone was the name of his old football club.
From Football Pitch to Drug Network
Francis Ventre, a 63-year-old former defender for Barrow A.F.C., was described by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as having 'played a leading role' in the large-scale distribution of cocaine and ketamine across the streets of Liverpool. The illicit operation was valued at approximately £500,000.
The EncroChat Crackdown
Ventre utilised an EncroChat device, a heavily encrypted communication platform notoriously favoured by organised crime groups, to coordinate his drug dealing activities throughout 2020. That same year, an international law enforcement coalition successfully infiltrated the platform, granting authorities unprecedented access to millions of private messages.
Operating under the alias 'Dillforest', Ventre used the network to offer substantial quantities of cocaine and ketamine to his contacts. His communications included arranging deliveries, sometimes undertaking them personally, and discussing payment methods with clients. He even shared photographs of the drugs in his possession.
A Password That Unlocked the Case
Despite the sophisticated encryption, Ventre made a critical error that ultimately led to his identification and conviction. Investigators discovered that the password he had set for his EncroChat account was simply 'barrow' – a direct reference to Barrow A.F.C., the club he once played for.
This blunder, combined with other personal information he carelessly shared on the platform – including his birthday, postcode, and details about relatives – allowed the NCA's Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership to conclusively prove that 'Dillforest' was, in fact, Francis Ventre.
Substantial Quantities and a Guilty Plea
The evidence compiled by officers showed Ventre was responsible for supplying one kilogram of cocaine, with an estimated street value of nearly £40,000, and a staggering 63 kilograms of ketamine, valued at around £441,000.
Arrested in November of last year, Ventre subsequently pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court on 10 December 2025. He admitted to conspiracy to supply both Class A and Class B drugs – cocaine and ketamine – as well as conspiracy to convert criminal property, a money laundering offence.
Police Commentary on the Investigation
NCA Senior Manager Jon Hughes provided insight into the meticulous police work that brought Ventre to justice. 'It was clear from Dillforest’s messages that he was playing a leading role in the sale of cocaine and ketamine, two drugs which are extremely harmful and a terrible blight on communities,' Hughes stated.
'My officers spent countless hours sifting through messages to painstakingly piece together clues to Dillforest’s real-world identity, eventually uncovering Francis Ventre as the man behind the alias. The investigators’ hard work has ensured that Ventre is in prison, and not out in Liverpool, still selling, delivering and profiting from drugs.'
A Modest Football Career
Known as Franny Ventre, the Liverpool-native had a modest playing career. He joined the then non-league side Barrow in March 1995, making a total of 27 appearances for the club without scoring a goal. Primarily a right-sided defender, he struggled to secure a regular starting position, beginning only three games in the 1996 season.
Following his playing days, Ventre remained involved with the club, serving as a caretaker manager before holding a management role until 1998. His football journey also included spells with other non-league teams such as Bootle, Vauxhall GM, Skelmersdale United, Burscough, and Morecambe.
Barrow A.F.C., the club inadvertently central to this criminal case, has since achieved professional status and currently competes in EFL League Two, based in Cumbria.
