Drug gangster Jamie Rothwell jailed after ordering shootings from Barcelona flat

A notorious gangster who orchestrated assassinations, organised huge drugtransactions, and trafficked lethal firearms from his Barcelona flat to the UK has been jailed.

Salford gangster Jamie Rothwell was jailed for 43 years after admitting to a string of offences. His sentence is comprised of 18 years for drugs offences and a consecutive 25 year extended sentence for firearms offences, including 21 years in prison and an extra four years on licence. Rothwell, a leading member of the Manchester's Anti A-Team gang, ordered shootings, arranged gun deals and moved huge quantities of drugs over an encrypted phone network before he was found by police "hiding out" at an apartment in Barcelona.

The 38-year-old was involved in a feud between warring factions in the city between 2014 and 2019. He was shot in a car wash and later acquitted of conspiracy to murder as a row between the A-Team and the Anti A-Team exploded. It comes after police shame British drugs mules by making them pose for photos with suitcases.

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At Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, Judge John Potter said Rothwell placed "hundreds of firearms into the UK." Quoting EncroChat messages, the judge explained how Rothwell said he was involved in a 'six month war' with someone, and that he 'went on a rampage'.

The court also heard his dealing was at an "international level", with the value of the drugs running into millions of pounds.

"You obtained wealth by having access to millions of pounds of cash," the judge told Rothwell, who lived in Portugal and Spain and took pictures of an apartment in Barcelona and its 'vista' which he sent on EncroChat - where he advertised a "vast arsenal of weapons" on the system. Judge Potter told Rothwell that "at your command" a man was shot in Warrington.

"Mr Rothwell, you have lived much of your life as a professional criminal involved in serious organised crime," the judge said. "The offences you fall to be sentenced for graphically illustrate your willingness to follow this path and cause loss and misery to others as you do so."

Rothwell's sentencing comes after he was brought to justice for ordering a shooting from Spain, and for his involvement in industrial scale cocaine dealing.

In February he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class A, namely cocaine, conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class B, namely ketamine and two counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

His crimes were revealed after European law enforcement infiltrated the EncroChat communications network, which was used by criminals who believed it was impenetrable. Manchester Crown Court previously heard how Rothwell used Encrochat to plan violence and supply deadly weapons alongside a string of associates, including James Close - known as 'Ballsniffer' - as well as Craig Makinson and Callum Morris.

In April 2020, Rothwell set his sights on rival Leon Cullen, telling one contact: "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 also targeted notorious gangster Liam Byrne, sharing Byrne's address with user 'Caperocket' and sending Google Earth images. "I'm gonna do them all soon," he wrote.

On April 24, a van linked to Rothwell was caught on CCTV outside a house in Warrington. Prosecutor Jaime Hamilton KC said: "David Barnes went to answer the door. He opened the door and recalled hearing the words 'pizza delivery'. He also believed that he saw a number of pizza boxes."

Mr Hamilton added: "As the door was closing he heard two shots and a third shot after he closed the door. His recollection is that the third shot passed through the door and struck him in the leg." The next day, Rothwell bragged to 'Caperocket', saying "I done two same time." When asked "who did you get yesterday" he replied: "I got the dad... Liam... I took Leon dad door of (sic) also."

Rothwell's Encrochat exchanges revealed his deep involvement in the illegal firearms trade. When Makinson messaged: "Any glocks," Rothwell replied: "No bro... soon though mate... if u ever need one u could borrow." Morris asked about cheap metals a 9mm or a pump shotgun, prompting Rothwell to send Makinson photos of AK-47s, saying "few aks for sale" at £10,500 each.

In one deal, Morris collected £10,500 from Makinson for an AK-47 in Warrington. Rothwell told him the gun would be loaded and to "be careful". Minutes later, Morris sent him a photo of the weapon. Rothwell's response was: "Makes me hard that bro."

Later that month, Rothwell asked if there was a boat near Southampton to offload 28 kilos of cocaine. He also offered to "drop" Morris a Glock. In another conversation with username 'Tubbytern', Rothwell boasted: "I sent 300 straps home... I got RPG, M16, Aks, Glock Machines." To Makinson, he claimed: "I sell a lot of Glocks." He even referenced the case for which he was wanted at the time in the UK (offences of which he was ultimately acquitted) but referenced them as "because a few women got shot".

Reflecting on the violence he was orchestrating, Rothwell told one associate: "when you have fire in your heart... you don't stop... you get addicted... you lose everyone... you turn cold, no emotions.... egos at first I agree... but then when you in, hard to go back."