A drug dealer who called himself the 'Pablo Escobar of Buxton' and threatened to cut off people's ears has been jailed for five years and nine months. Liam Churchman, also known as Liam Hartley, was found cowering behind a sofa during one of his arrests.
Arrests and evidence
Churchman was first arrested in June 2023 after police went to an address in Fairfield Road, acting on intelligence around drug dealing. Investigators found messages and videos on his phone relating to the supply of cocaine and cannabis, including mass marketing messages around a drug dealing operation based in Buxton. Videos of him with large amounts of cash and footage of him shrink wrapping and packing large bags of cannabis were also on the phone.
While investigations into that incident were ongoing, Churchman was arrested again in February 2024 at an address in Fairfield Road where he was found cowering behind the sofa. On that occasion, cash, a small bag of cannabis and a mobile phone were also seized. Mass marketing messages advertising the sale of drugs were once again found.
Further arrest and charges
Both matters were still under investigation when in September 2025, officers went to a property in St James' Court, Harpur Hill. Cocaine, scales, dealer bags and a mobile phone were seized and Churchman was arrested. More messages relating to the mass marketing of drugs were found on the phone, as well as text messages between Churchman and the staff he employed as part of his dealing operation.
In one of the messages, Churchman referred to himself as Buxton's answer to Pablo Escobar with others also making threats to cut people's ear off as well as other violence.
Sentencing
The 37-year-old, of no fixed address, was subsequently charged with three counts of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and being concerned in the supply of diamorphine. He was also charged with dangerous driving in relation to an incident on February 4, 2024, when he was seen by officers driving a Mercedes in Buxton without a licence or insurance.
Churchman admitted the offences and appeared at Derby Crown Court for sentence for all of the matters where he was jailed for a total of five years and nine months.
Detective Constable Peter Flanders, who led the investigation, said: “Throughout our investigations Churchman attempted to minimise his role in this operation but the evidence was clear that he was responsible for the operation of this drugs line and the staff he employed to run it. The dangerous driving incident shows just how far he is willing to go to evade justice but as he now knows, you can’t run from us forever. These have been lengthy investigations but it is good to see these matters brought to a conclusion and Churchman behind bars where he belongs.”
