Thirsk man jailed for 26 years for selling drugs and weapons
He used an encrypted phone network
A Thirsk man who used an encrypted phone network to try and hide his illegal activities from police has been sentenced to 26 years and four months in prison.
Nathaniel Thomas Hollywood, used an “EncroChat” device to sell drugs and offer automatic weapons to other criminals.
The 39-year-old, of Dondeen Avenue in Thirsk, pleaded guilty to six charges of conspiracy to supply class-A and class- B drugs after arranging the sale of cocaine, amphetamine, cannabis and ketamine.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO) and intentionally assisting or encouraging an offence contrary to section 44 of the serious crime act.
French law enforcement infiltrated the "EncroChat" platform in 2020 and shared the content of criminal’s messages with the NCA and UK police forces.
Details of Hollywood’s activities on the encrypted phone network were shared with North Yorkshire Police and an investigation was launched by the force’s Organised Crime Unit.
The subsequent investigation found that Hollywood, using the handle ‘Tasteful Crow’, on the EncroChat system was attempting to broker the sale of multiple firearms to other criminal associates in April 2020.
The weapons he offered for sale included AK47 assault rifles and Skorpian and Uzi sub machine guns.
Detective Constable Fiona Saunderson from North Yorkshire Police said:“Organised Crime remains one of our top priorities in North Yorkshire Police.
“This case shows how we are relentless in our pursuit of people who commit this type of crime.
“We will continue to seek and use serious crime prevention orders to safeguard our communities and reduce the risk posed with drugs supply."