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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Sean Morrison

Cheese photo enables police to track down and arrest drug dealer in Liverpool

Carl Stewart posted this photograph on the encrypted messaging service EncroChat, from which his fingerprints were analysed (Picture: Merseyside police)

Police were able to track down and arrest a drug dealer after he shared a photo of Stilton cheese.

Carl Stewart was identified by his fingerprints after police analysed the picture, which he had posted in an online chat.

The 39-year-old was jailed for 13 years and six months. He admitted at Liverpool Crown Court. conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine, ketamine and MDMA.

Stewart, of Gem Street, Liverpool, was also sentenced for transferring criminal property.

Merseyside police

Stewart posted the photo on the encrypted messaging service EncroChat, which had been cracked by police.

Det Insp Lee Wilkinson, of Merseyside Police, said he went by the name Toffeeforce and was involved in supplying large amounts of drugs.

The detective said "his love of Stilton cheese" ultimately led to his downfall.

Stewart is not the first British criminal to be identified from a picture of his hands.

In 2010, Stephen Taylor was sentenced to 10 months for handling stolen goods after officers found a photograph on his phone of him holding stolen watches.

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