In the luxury of a swanky flat in Barcelona, he hid behind the protective screen of an encrypted phone. His dark past had earned him infamy. Tapping away on the device, he thought he was unstoppable. Organising hits on criminal opponents and buying and selling drugs and weapons with ease, Jamie Rothwell was able to command his crew at the touch of a few buttons. But it all came crashing down when European law enforcement infiltrated the EncroChat system, revealing a treasure trove of damning messages. When devices accepted an 'update', it allowed for messages to be shared with police in real time. Officers had limited time and access - just 74 days - before the system’s users were alerted to the breach and advised to destroy their devices. For Rothwell, his messages were incriminating but not enough to identify him. Instead, it was a cocky selfie that led officers right to the Salford gangster’s door. Rothwell, 38, was handed a huge 43-year sentence after admitting a series of gun and drug crimes last week . He was revealed to have ordered a gangland shooting, arranged huge drug deals and sold deadly weapons over EncroChat, the encrypted communications network which was hacked by European law enforcement. Rothwell was finally sentenced at Manchester Crown Court , appearing via video link from HMP Wakefield. Below are examples of the messages as released by Greater Manchester Police following Rothwell's sentencing... Craig Makinson to Jamie Rothwell: “Yes bro, you ok … Ae them AK’s here bro” Rothwell: “Yes bro.” Makinson: “You any pics bro and how much are they” Rothwell: “I’m buying one bro… One left.” Makinson: “How much bro” Rothwell: “10,500 each bro 21k both I’m defo buying one” Rothwell then sent a picture of drugs with ‘RIF’ printed on them to an associate. They said: “Looks good them made like” Rothwell: “Nope 35… 2 cost… 10 there.” Associate: “What u think my pal need these stash vans ready don’t we can place some like any on them” Later, Callum Morris sent a picture of a gun laid flat on a bed to Rothwell. Rothwell: “Nice.” Callum Morris: “Sam as yours that?” Rothwell: “Ye Bro” Callum Morris: “My pal sent it who lives in the sun just asked him if it’s there or uk.” Rothwell: “For sale I’ll buy.” Callum Morris: “I’ll ask him mate … Asked him if its in the sun of uk” Rothwell: “Okay I’ll buy all” Callum Morris: “Is there no 9mm or 45s for sale ive got 100 9mm sweets and 20 45mm sweets mate… from when I had mine bt bt nothing put them in now lol sat there doing nothing ill buy mate if nt too dear and put them down for us.” Rothwell: “Yes I drop u glock” Here the Manchester Evening News breaks down the messages as outlined in court, that ultimately led to Rothwell’s downfall... In discussion with associate James Close (also known as ‘ballsniffer’) Rothwell (who used the moniker ‘livelong’) ordered Close to learn the process of adulterating cocaine. Close asked permission from Rothwell for his brother to come with him, which he allowed. The following day Close consistently reported back to Rothwell, including sending pictures of the process. Craig Makinson, a.k.a ‘top-shag’, sent a message to Rothwell asking: “Any glocks”. Rothwell replied: “no bro…soon though mate…if u ever need one u could borrow.” In a conversation with another user known only as ‘tubbytern’, Rothwell described attacking a criminal associate as a ‘direct consequence’ of being threatened. Rothwell ordered Close: “five tops to collect” in Liverpool, in which another man was dispatched to collect. He was also in contact with Zak Rourke, who used the username ‘purple hawk’, about collecting £75,000. Rothwell also discussed the sale of multiple kilos of cocaine, with Close checking in about the price. He went on to provide Makinson with a postcode for a drug drop off, and discussed the purchase and availability of stash vehicles. Callum Morris, who used the moniker ‘keyhole’, is also in discussion with Rothwell, and asked if he’s got any ‘cheap metals’ as he could do with a ‘9mm or a pump shotgun’. Rothwell made repeated warnings to Close and Makinson about the high presence of police on the roads as part of the Covid-19 response. Rothwell asked Makinson if he can do “ket” as he knows someone that he can get them from and provides a price. The user ‘Mayweather’ was in correspondence with Rothwell about nearly £160,000 in cash. Rothwell then forwarded this discussion to Rourke. That same day, Rothwell wrote to another user: “I’ve give Leon a way out….he a grass…he turned on me for nothing….tried kill me….while my daughter there…he my only enemy….when he lands in UK that’s when it starts”. He then goes on to say that he has a list of all those that work for him. Rothwell sent out photos of 69 blocks of cocaine with ‘2020’ embossed on the wrapping. He told another user that these drugs are not his but are available in Liverpool and that he can get them for the price of £37,000. Close then arranged to deliver £74,000 in cash and informed Rothwell when it had been delivered. Makinson sent Andrew Ackers to collect cocaine from London and report on his progress to Rothwell. Makinson was also in conversation with Rourke about the purchase of a stash van. Rothwell directed Makinson as to where to send Ackers. Later that day there was a transaction between Rourke and Makinson at which Rourke said that his driver was in the stash van that had been discussed and that it is therefore available to be viewed. Callum Morris also asked Rothwell with help over a £450,000 debt that had been outstanding for a considerable amount of time, with Callum Morris suggesting that he and Makinson wanted to target the person’s family. Rothwell responded: “I got trackers and cameras”. Rothwell tells ‘tubbytern’ that he doesn’t have anything to do with his youngest child as she doesn’t need to be exposed to the level of danger that his world provides. He goes on to say: “when you have fire in your heart…you don’t stop…you get addicted…..you lose everyone….you turn cold, no emotions….its not egos bro….people say that…till u get shot or a friend does…. u just stop….tick for tack….egos at first I agree…but then when you in, hard to go back.” He also discussed the fall outs that he has had with other major criminals, including them trying to kill him and how this meant he had a “six month war” with one. Rothwell sent Makinson a series of photographs of AK-47 assault rifles, followed by the message: “few aks for sale”. He then said that the guns are in the UK and that he is buying one. Makinson asked the price of the other one and was told that it is £10,500. Rothwell also shared one of the images with Callum Morris. Rothwell asked Makinson to pay for the AK-47 that he intended to buy. He assured Makinson that he would get the money back. Meanwhile, Close told Rothwell that he had somebody who will move the weapon for him, but Close was just looking to find a safe house for it. Rothwell told Close: “Mako got tjr [the] 10 500”. Close asked Callum Morris to pick up the rifle and “put it to bed”, on the understanding that it can be used by them if they need it as it belongs to a friend. A short while later, Callum Morris told Rothwell that he had spoken to an associate and he would arrange to pick the firearm up. Rothwell told Callum Morris to get the money from Makinson, and told him that the firearm was in Warrington. Close then confirmed to Rothwell that Makinson was going to pay. Rothwell then sent Callum Morris a screenshot showing the address of the Royal British Legion in Thelwall on the outskirts of Warrington. Callum Morris confirmed that he will collect the money from Makinson and then go to collect the firearm. As the afternoon went on, Close became impatient with Callum Morris, sent repeated messages asking him when he would arrive, worrying that the suppliers were sitting with the weapon in a public place waiting for him. Rothwell then intervened, messaging Callum Morris to ask where he was and telling him that Makinson was ready and waiting with the money. Callum Morris reassured Rothwell that he had spoken to Makinson and was sorting the money out. The two liaised about estimated times of arrival at the rendezvous site. Rothwell told Callum Morris that he will get a ‘pump’ dropped with him the following day. Callum Morris then collected the money. He checked with Rothwell whether he was handing over all £10,500 and was told that he should. He told Rothwell that he was driving a black Audi A3 on an 09 plate. Rothwell told him that the gun would be loaded and to ‘be careful’ with it. Rothwell told Callum Morris that he was meeting a red van and asked Callum Morris to send a picture when he had the gun. Eleven minutes later, Callum Morris sent another handle – ‘costaviper’ – a picture of an AK-47 rifle with magazines and ammunition. He sent the same image to Rothwell, who responded: “makes me hard that bro”, and Callum Morris replied: “it’s the boy that mate”. He assured Rothwell it will be kept safe. Callum Morris asked Rothwell to let him know if he wants him to transport and conceal a pump-action shotgun. Callum Morris made arrangements to collect the shotgun the following day, and reported back to Rothwell what was happening. Callum Morris again asked “master-passer” to deliver to an address in Atherton, after the previous day’s rendezvous failed to happen. Rourke then confirmed this postcode with Callum Morris and the meeting was arranged. Vehicles and passwords changed hands in advance. Rothwell ordered Close to chase money they are owed in order to restart the flow of drugs once everybody’s debts are settled. Callum Morris confirmed with Rourke that he intended to collect the shotgun, and asked for a postcode. Callum Morris then told Rourke that his driver had arrived to collect the shotgun. Callum Morris reported to Rothwell that he is on scene, and Rothwell told him to test the firearm. Close tried to contact Makinson for money, and when Makinson didn't respond, he turned to Rothwell. A little later, Close confirmed to Rothwell that he had collected £40,000 from a customer. Rothwell forwarded a message to Close asking if there is anyone that has a boat near Southampton as there was a boat off shore with 28 kilos of cocaine that they needed offloading. Callum Morris showed Rothwell an image of an AK47 that he had been sent. Rothwell immediately responded that he will buy it if it is for sale. Callum Morris asked if there were any 9mm guns for sale and Rothwell responded that he will “drop” him a Glock. Rothwell then stated that someone had two of his shotguns and Callum Morris offered to start anything for Rothwell. Rothwell and the user ‘caperocket’ discussed Rothwell’s wish to find out the address of Liam Byrne, and his dad. ‘Caperocket’ provided Rothwell with photographs of both men as well as Google Earth images of their houses. Rothwell stated: “I’m gonna do all them soon”. Rothwell also provides 'Caperocket' with the details of a white Astra Van, which would go onto be used to track down Liam Byrne. Rothwell arranged for Callum Morris to collect a shotgun from Droylsden . The shotgun obtained is in pieces before Callum Morris offered to test it for Rothwell. Having discussed matters with Rothwell, ‘Caperocket’ then contacts username ‘Slightdrake’. They discussed the address and the previously discussed van. ‘Caperocket’ also contacted user ‘Novabear’ about the same information. Both ‘Novabear’ and ‘Slightdrake’ provide ‘Caperocket’ with the same screenshot with Liam Byrne’s address shown. Anthony Morris, who worked for an MOT and repair and service centre, had access to a white Transit van owed by the business. His boss, Anthony Schofield, later assisted the police with CCTV footage from the garage and recalled that Anthony Morris was receiving a lot of telephone calls in the week before the incident. Anthony Morris left work in Connah’s Quay and travelled in the white Transit van to Liverpool where it is captured on CCTV outside City View apartments before travelling to Warrington. That evening there were two shootings, one at the former home address of Charlie Cullen, and the other at the home address of Liam Byrne’s mother. At the Cullen address, a man knocked at the front door at between 10.30pm and 11pm. When the occupant answered the door there was a man holding two pizza boxes. The occupier had not ordered a pizza. The man holding the pizza boxes asked for “Charles” and then “Charles Cullen”. The occupier explained that Cullen no longer lived there, and the man walked away. That same night, Liam Byrne’s mother and stepfather were at home when there was a knock at the door. Mr Byrne’s stepfather answered and heard the words: "pizza delivery". Thinking something was amiss, he closed the door, before hearing three shots. The third shot hit him in the leg. During the evening, Rothwell and another Encro user discussed the attacks, both aware of what had happened. Rothwell shared a screenshot of an online news story about someone being taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. He boasted: “I done two same time”. ‘Caperocket’ asked: “who did you get yesterday” and Rothwell responded: “I got the dad….Liam…..I took Leon dad door of {sic} also.” Rothwell stated that they needed a car to collect a 'strap' and provided a postcode. The following day user ‘Racyocelot’ asked Rothwell whether he can 'grab a glock'. Rothwell agreed and provided the same postcode. Rothwell was then in contact about the arrival of a vehicle and it is apparent that a further Glock is picked up. A Glock was recovered from City View Apartment in Liverpool, hidden in the extractor fan for the cooker. It was examined and found to be a Glock Model 19 9mm self-loading pistol. A magazine of ammunition was also recovered, having been hidden on the top of a vent in the bathroom. The bullet casings recovered from the scene of the shooting at Mr Bryne’s family’s home had not been fired from the recovered Glock. Close and Makinson arranged the collection of 13 kilos of cocaine from London. In a conversation with ‘tubbytern’, Rothwell indicated that he is trying to keep a low profile but is very busy: “sending constant….metal tops bottoms ket”. He went on to boast: “I sent 300 straps home….I got RPG, M16, Aks, Glock Machines.” He also stated to Makinson: “I sell a lot of Glocks”. He also referenced a case for which he was wanted for at the time in the UK, stating ‘because a few women got shot’. Rothwell had then received a message urging him to lie low, stating: “You just got to be a ghost.” On May 24, 2020, Rothwell was arrested in Barcelona. After his arrest, on Encrochat, user 'valuedbridge' wrote: “That Rothwell's been nicked.” Another user, 'elpapiiii' replied: “Who” Callum Morris (keyhole) replied: “The one who gets all the weapons.” “Interpol had him mate,” said Close (ballsniffer). Rothwell was jailed alongside nine others last week...