by A dad who labeled his 10 years in prison “the worst” is now starting a sentence of more than 20 years.
Gary Moffatt traded wholesale quantities of heroin, cocaine and cannabis using the handle “Smart Royal” on the encrypted communications platform EncroChat. The dad, from the Spinney in Stockbridge Village, was released after saving a man’s life by taking pictures of his oxen in Bilbao.
The ECHO previously reported that he was locked up in 2011 as part of a gang which carried out a series of violent robberies across Merseyside, including in the West Derby, Croxteth and Huyton areas. The thugs, who covered their faces with masks and balaclavas, were said to have broken into homes and made terrifying demands for car keys and jewelery while threatening their terrified victims with knives, swords, sledgehammers, machetes, chisels and a shotgun.
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In two months they carried out 27 burglaries and stole a high-powered Vauxhall, a top-of-the-line Volkswagen Golf, an exclusive Audi, 4x4s, a BMW and a fast Honda. They even threatened victims who did not have a cave in their demands and threatened to cut off a pensioner’s hand if his wife did not show that they were safe.
Homes in Woolton, Childwall, Gateacre, Bootle, Prescot, Maghull, St Helens, Whiston, Lancashire and North Wales were also targeted during the crime wave, which began in December 2009 and continued for around two months. .
Moffatt and four other crew members – Jason Nee, 21, of Lynstead Road in Dovecot, Craig Murphy, 19, of Stockbridge Village, Anthony Akins, 19, of Aylton Road in Huyton , and Jamie Williams, 18, of Woodlands Road in Huyton – was jailed for a total of 40 years at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to grand larceny and conspiracy to commit burglary. Jamie Nee, 23, also from Dovecot, was jailed for a year after admitting perverting the course of justice, after reporting his Mazda 3 stolen while his younger brother was using it from him to break in.
Moffatt, Akins, Williams and Jason Nee, then 22, were arrested on 5 February 2010 while hiding in a cupboard in the ladies’ toilet at the Granada Bingo Hall, also known as Bugsy’s, in Callan. Officers found “burglar uniforms” balaclavas and masks on the floor around them after a high-speed chase involving the police helicopter and the theft of a VW Golf R32.
Sentencing, Judge John Roberts said: “This was a wide-ranging conspiracy in which young men went on the rampage and terrorized their victims at home. It was carried out in the belief that they could what they want with impunity – these were particularly terrible burglaries.”
The same court heard on Monday this week that data revealed when French police told EncroChat during 2020 that the username “SmartRoyal” as “Moff”, “Gary Moff” and “Gaz Moff” had been saved by the contacts are now 35 years old. on their devices, and he also gave his initials in messages. Meanwhile Moffatt sent his partners pictures from inside and outside his house, a photo of his son and an image showing his toy box with his name on it.
Henry Riding, prosecuting, described one conversation on April 20 in which the account holder referred to an accident that had happened “outside his family”. The defendant was said to have administered CPR to a motorist on this date after suffering a medical incident behind the wheel on the same street.
More photos taken during a stag for SmartRoyal in Bilbao were also exchanged over the service. Records showed Moffatt had previously traveled from Manchester Airport to the Spanish city via Dusseldorf.
Meanwhile he revealed in his communications that he drove a black Nissan Qashqai and referred to “ripping up the garden” and installing artificial grass, with that work completed at his property. Photographs of a quantity of cannabis and prescription drugs were also found to contain his fingerprints.
Another message, sent on May 20, said the sender had been “away from the kids for 10 years”, reading: “He was the worst boy. I was killed, my 10 year old.”
This was said to be a reference to Moffatt’s sentence in 2011. In total, his communications showed discussions regarding the supply of 12kg of cocaine, 3kg of heroin and up to 63kg of cannabis and cannabis resin.
Mr. Riding also referred to an exchange with “GrandFisher”, in which it appeared that he wanted to sell or trade his model 1892 Colt revolver and wanted to get .357 and .3 caliber ammunition. In these messages, SmartRoyal asked: “Can you get any slugs for 357?”
The other anonymous user then replied: “I have a Colt 357. Want to trade?”
Moffatt then replied that the gun was “too big for me” and described it as “being like Dirty Harry”. He added: “I might sell it if I can get a trade for it.”
Grand Power told him “I’ll buy it”, followed by SmartRoyal: “It’s a beast mate, but too big for me. I like to stick to a small bag around my neck.”
Moffatt has a total of five previous convictions for 12 offenses dating back to 2007. Matthew Buckland, defending, told the court: “His partner deals with the upstream aspect.
“Both of them are offering brokerage, selling for a little more than they are buying for. Their margin is thin, and not the amount of profit it would take at first glance.
“As far as the firearm is concerned, this was not financially motivated. It was later recovered in an inoperable condition.
“References show something different from Gary Moffatt’s point of view. There was an emergency situation where a man was driving a motor vehicle and unfortunately he suffered a cardiac arrest.
“Mr Moffatt was the first member of the public to stop. He pulled him out of the car for his own safety and started CPR.
“There was a long road to recovery. But for that intervention, his prognosis would not be as good as it is and the result might even be the worst.
“There are also generous referrals from boxing clubs he has given his time and expertise to, those in the community who need help. These clubs often attract people who have problems, and it draws them away from harmful uses.
“He gave his time and his skills to help others out of the difficulties he fell into. He sits on top of his wing as a link between the staff and the prisoners.
“He is a mentor and he is a listener. There is one man inside that prison who would not be here today, but for his intervention.
“He tried to kill himself. Mr Moffatt corrected him and got his life back on track.
“When he finds out, he and his son will be the only priorities. He doesn’t want to be inside a prison cell again.”
Moffatt admitted conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine, cannabis and cannabis resin, conspiracy to transfer a prohibited weapon and conspiracy to possess ammunition. He was sentenced to 21 years and two months in prison.
His mother walked out of the courtroom in tears moments before this sentence was handed down. Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told Moffatt: “Obviously the effect will be most significant as far as your young son is concerned.
“Various documents have been served that confirm your positive aspects. They obviously show a different side to you.
“The mitigating factor must be seen in the context of your last conviction in 2011, when you were again involved in a very serious offence. Obviously that didn’t stop you.
“You wanted to sell or exchange your Colt pistol for a less sophisticated, portable and modern weapon. It can only be assumed that the potentially lethal weapon was for use in your business drug trafficking.”
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