EncroChat selfie led police straight to fugitive

Rothwell, who is making an offensive gesture with his hand, shared a picture of himself on EncroChat

In the spring of 2020, international law enforcement agencies hacked into an encrypted phone network trusted by criminals around the world.

It gave detectives access to private conversations between thousands of organised criminals oblivious to the fact that the supposedly uncrackable EncroChat system had been blown wide open for 74 days.

Fugitive Jamie Rothwell was among the 60,000 users who put their faith in the instant messaging service to run their underworld operations.

Messages exposed his command over a sprawling criminal enterprise and his involvement in the trafficking of high-powered weapons, including AK-47 rifles.

From the comfort of his high-rise apartment overlooking Barcelona, Rothwell was running a multi-million-pound drugs and guns operation.

"While he lapped up the Spanish sun, his associates carried out his orders and searched the streets of Warrington for those Rothwell had intended to harm," said Det Ch Insp Nick Henderson of Cheshire Police.

"His actions brought chaos to the local community, leaving innocent members of the public fearful."

Images of various firearms were posted on EncroChat

The messages revealed how Rothwell, now 38, was the catalyst behind a gangland hit where an innocent man was shot.

Two days before the shooting, Rothwell and another man discussed Rothwell's wish to find out where Liam Byrne Jr and his father, Liam Byrne Sr, lived.

In one message, Rothwell stated: "I'm gonna do all them soon", before discussing the use of a specific van as a getaway vehicle.

On the evening of 24 April 2020, David Barnes, stepfather of Liam Byrne Jr, was shot in the leg on the doorstep of his home in Warrington by a gunman posing as a pizza delivery driver.

In other messages, Rothwell discussed his escalating feud with gangland boss Leon Cullen, who at the time had fled to Dubai.

Cullen was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court in May 2021 for 22-and-a-half years.

He admitted conspiracy to supply firearms, conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to supply cocaine

"I've give Leon a way out….he a grass…he turned on me for nothing," Rothwell said in messages on 5 April, just under two weeks before the shooting.

"Tried kill me….while my daughter there…he my only enemy….when he lands in UK that's when it starts."

Other communication revealed how Rothwell advertised and arranged for the purchase and storage of automatic firearms and live ammunition – most notably an AK-47 assault rifle as well as hordes of cocaine and ketamine.

Rothwell has been sentenced to 43 years after pleading guilty to drugs and firearms offences

Det Sgt Colin Shackleton, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "The supply of Class A drugs in this investigation were on an industrial scale, with the criminal gang making eye-watering profits.

"They believed they were above the law, and having access to their messages gave us real insight into their arrogant, egotistical, and apathetic nature."

In the mistaken belief that EncroChat could not be infiltrated, Rothwell inadvertently sealed his own fate when he shared a photograph of himself posing in a mirror.

He also shared a picture of the panoramic views from his high-rise apartment.

It was the breakthrough that police had been waiting for as they scoured thousands of messages between criminals conducting their day-to-day affairs.

Detectives now knew the identity and the location of the man behind the handle "livelong" on EncroChat.

Rothwell was already known to police, with previous convictions for robbery, possession of a weapon and drug dealing.

He was also wanted over a shooting in Salford in 2015.

Ultimately, he was arrested on 24 May in Barcelona before being extradited back to the UK to face justice.

In the middle of June 2020 a service-wide message went out to Encrochat users to alert them that their server had been compromised.

Users were advised to delete their chat histories and dispose of their devices.

The server, which was located in northern France, has since been shut down.

Shortly after, nine other men were arrested as part of their involvement in the drugs and firearms conspiracy.

Rothwell went on trial over the shooting in Salford but was acquitted in the summer of 2020.

He then fled to the Netherlands before being arrested in a taxi in Amsterdam in December of that year and once again extradited back to the UK.

'Ferocious attack'

Rothwell had previously pleaded not guilty to the string of drug and firearms offences and had gone on trial at Manchester Crown Court in July 2024.

Proceedings had to be halted and the jury discharged, however, after he was stabbed in a "ferocious attack" in prison.

In February 2025, Rothwell changed his plea, admitting conspiracies to possess firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life, conspiracies to supply cocaine and ketamine, and two counts of conspiracy to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was sentenced to 43 years - 18 years for the drugs offences, and 25 years for the firearms charges, to be served consecutively.

The firearms term includes 21 years in prison with an extra four years on licence.

Senior investigating officer Wayne Johns, from the National Crime Agency (NCA), said: "More than 2,200 criminals have been convicted under Operation Venetic, and Jamie Rothwell is one of the most dangerous.

"Throughout the operation, the NCA and UK police have stopped 200 threats to life, seized over £84m in criminal funds and more than eight tonnes of Class A drugs, recovered 175 firearms and more than 3,500 rounds of ammunition."