'Fight in Bolton' linked to Enchrochat drug plot, court told

The men are on a trial accused of a wide range of crimes using names like “Live-Long”, “Ballsniffer”, "Top-Shag", "Keyhole" and “Sickplane” on the notorious Enchrochat service in 2020.

But a jury at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard how the men’s real identities were linked to the nicknames by photos they had shared, surveillance and a reference to a “fight in Bolton".

Prosecutor Jaime Hamilton KC said: “The first time you will hear them just now, you will have been slightly baffled by them.”

He added: “How can these seemingly random mishmash of words equate to a criminal conspiracy?”

The prosecution say the men used the Enchrochat messaging platform (Image: Newsquest)

Standing before a packed court room, Mr Hamilton told the jury that in reality “Ballsniffer”, who later adopted the name “Sickplane” was 40-year-old James Close of Henly Street, Leigh.

“Live-Long”, he said, was in fact 37-year-old Jamie Rothwell, of Grindon Avenue, Salford while 49-year-old Craig Makinson, of Springpool, Winstanley, went by “Top Shag” or “Shaggard".

Another man who went by “Keyhole” was in fact 32-year-old Callum Morris from Carr Bank Crescent, Atherton, who was also known as by the nickname “wrestler.”

The fifth man, Terence McDonagh, 33 of Forncroft Avenue, Astley, did not share a nickname and according to Mr Hamilton was not important enough to have used an Echrochat handle.

He said: “Those at the top of the tree would employ others to perform tasks for them such as driving or delivering drugs.”

McDonagh, Mr Hamilton said, was “the hired help.”

He told the jury how the use of Enchrochat was not in itself criminal, the acts discussed in the messages clearly were.

Mr Hamilton said that photographs sent on the service and surveillance by the police could prove that each of them had been involved.

He pointed to how Makinson’s device, which he said used the Enchrochat handle “Top Shag”, had the user “Keyhole” who he said to be Morris saved with the nickname “wrestler.”

Mr Hamilton said that messages sent by the “Keyhole” user referenced his knees being injured from wrestling and that he and “Top-Shag” had discussed fighting in Bolton.

He said that Morris was found to have fought in Bolton at the same time in February 2020, winning by submission.

Mr Hamilton told the jury that there task was to work out if the five men in the dock were indeed those who had been using the Enchrochat name.

He said that they had been involved in “the upper echelons of the supply of drugs".

Mr Hamilton said: “During the course of this trial you will look at extensive evidence of the content of communications where arrangements are made for the supply, collection and possession of firearms and ammunition.

“Those weapons were deadly weapons that were being obtained for the purposes of endangering life in the pursuit of violent crime.

He added: “You will also look at messages that relate to the supply, collection, possession and distribution of huge quantities of drugs.

“The supply of cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, ketamine and cannabis on an industrial scale.

"You will also look at messages that relate to the proceeds of such criminality.”

All five men deny conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life, while Morris also denies conspiracy to murder.

Close, Makinson, Morris and Rothwell deny conspiracy to supply cocaine while Makinson also denies counts of conspiracy to supply heroin and conspiracy to supply amphetamines.

Close, Makinson and Morris deny conspiracy to possess criminal property while Rothwell denies four counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

He also denies conspiracy to supply heroin, conspiracy to supply ketamine, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property.

The trial before Judge Alan Conrad KC continues.