Salford drugs kingpin jailed for 43 years
38-year-old Jamie Rotherwell helped organise a shooting whilst hiding abroad
A notorious organised crime boss from Salford has been jailed for 43 years after using an encrypted phone network to orchestrate a gangland shooting in Warrington while hiding abroad.
Jamie Rothwell, 38, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court today (Thursday 14th August), after pleading guilty to a series of serious offences connected to drugs and firearms conspiracies across Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
The Encrochat network
The investigation into Rothwell began as part of Operation Venetic, a major Europe-wide effort following the infiltration of the encrypted EncroChat phone network by international law enforcement in May 2020.
Operating under the handle ‘Live-long’, Rothwell used the supposedly secure messaging platform to coordinate criminal activities from Spain, where he had been evading police for separate serious offences. From abroad, he orchestrated a violent campaign against a rival gang, led by Leon Cullen, ordering attacks on Cullen’s known associates.
Encrypted messages revealed Rothwell had placed hits “out to tender”, offering large sums of money to anyone willing to carry out shootings on his behalf.
Man shot on Rothwell’s orders
On 24th April 2020, Rothwell’s orders were carried out. A 56-year-old man was shot in the leg on Poplars Avenue in Warrington, a targeted attack that left the victim with life-changing injuries. He will never walk the same again.
Cheshire Police launched Operation Chairs to investigate the shooting, working with the National Crime Agency, North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, and Greater Manchester Police. The attack was quickly linked to Rothwell’s EncroChat messages.
Three men were later convicted for their roles in the shooting: Lewis Fitzpatrick, who sourced the gun; Aaron Bretherton, who pulled the trigger; and Anthony Morris, who drove the getaway vehicle.
International manhunt and arrest
After police identified Rothwell as the mastermind, he fled Spain for the Netherlands. But his time on the run was short-lived. On 14th December 2020, Rothwell was arrested while travelling in a taxi in Amsterdam.
His arrest followed the issuing of a European Arrest Warrant by Cheshire Police. He was extradited back to the UK on 11th March, thanks to coordinated work with Dutch authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Henderson from Cheshire’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit said:
“Rothwell was a well-established organised criminal who believed his connections would allow him to commit extreme acts of violence whilst remaining under the radar.
“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.
“His actions brought chaos to the local community, leaving innocent members of the public fearful. A man was also left with lifelong injuries and will never be able to walk the same again.
“We have worked incredibly hard to turn the tide of fear in Warrington… and I hope his sentence will serve as warning to those who think that they can travel to Cheshire to commit crime.
“We will continue to be relentless in the pursuit of those who cause the most harm to our communities.”
Rothwell was handed 25 years for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, conspiracy to possess a firearm, and conspiracy to possess ammunition — all linked to a targeted shooting in Warrington. He received a further 18 years for drugs offences in the Greater Manchester area.