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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Abigail Nicholson

Encrochat dealer says 'there's a grenade' as police smash car windows

This is the moment armed police swooped on a man involved in a huge drug gang.

The dramatic footage captured officers boxing in a car before smashing the two front windows and searching the men inside.

Bodycam images emerged on Tuesday, February 22, as 10 men and women were sentenced at the conclusion of a police operation to bust a drug and gun gang.

READ MORE: Robber dragged Starbucks staff by the hair in terrifying hammer raid

Members of the gang were jailed for more than 45 years for conspiracy to supply drugs, money laundering and conspiracy to possess firearms, ammunition and explosive devices.

One gang member, Joseph Grey, 57, was travelling back from Merseyside with an unknown passenger when officers boxed in his car and smashed the front windows.

Officers removed Grey from the car and ask him if he has anything "on him he shouldn't have", to which he replied "yes".

When asked what he had, Grey said "I think it's a grenade", when officers repeat this back to him, the 57-year-old mentions he also has a gun.

Following his arrest, Grey's house in Newton Heath was searched and officers found an encrypted phone, 9kg of cannabis in vacuum sealed bags with a street value of £90,000, and 3.6kg of amphetamine which, if mixed further, would have had a street value of £100,000.

Jonathan Walsh, 34, the group's ringleader, was in a relationship with Jodie Bowie, 32, when police started investigating him between October 2018 and July 2019.

Manchester Crown Court was told he was arrested he used his partner's family to collect and transport the drugs and weapons.

After losing a key part of the crime group's operations, Walsh recruited Kaylum Davies, 24, who was later busted by police in March 2019 by uniformed officers who pulled his car over on the A617.

While searching Davies and his vehicle, officers found a small amount of cocaine, a knuckle duster, and an encrypted phone.

A further search of his home on Pirie Walk, Manchester, also found items including heroin, cannabis, a pistol, and body armour.

Police then searched the home of Kaylum Davies' sister, Chelsea Davies and her partner Noel Walsh - who is the brother of the group's ringleader Jonathan Walsh.

Noel Walsh was already in custody following an unrelated conviction. During the search they found 14kg of amphetamine and an encrypted mobile phone.

The court was told that following the arrest of Kaylum and Chelsea Davies, the Bowie family was then enlisted to help transport the drugs and cash between Manchester and Mansfield.

Following a surveillance operation, on July 3, 2019 officers raided a home frequented by Walsh on Clough Road, Failsworth. This was the home address of Geoffrey Keenan.

On July 4, 2019, police raided the address and as officers moved in Walsh fled from the scene in his vehicle, ramming a police car and mounting the kerb to make his escape despite local school children returning home.

During the search, police located 15kg of cannabis with a street value of £150,000. Keenan had fled on foot but was arrested when he returned home later in the day.

Jonathan Walsh was arrested within the hour when he was collected by his partner in crime - Jodie Bowie - and returned to their lavish home at Medlock Road, Woodhouses.

Following Walsh's arrest the home was then searched, where police found more than £10,000 in cash and designer clothing valued at over £94,000, despite the fact that Walsh had not declared earnings since before 2013 and Jodie earnt less than £20,000 per year. Walsh was subsequently arrested.

The Clough Road property was searched again days later and a double plug socket wall safe was discovered with 50 foil wraps of heroin, 33 foil wraps containing cocaine and one bag of heroin and one of cocaine inside. Fingerprints of Kaylum Davies were found on these foil wraps.

In a coordinated strike day on October 16, 2019, the home of Anthony Jones, in Gillmoss - another associate of Jonathan Walsh - and the homes of Jodie Bowie, Lee Bowie, Kaylum Davies were all searched and all four were arrested for their part in the criminal group.

Chelsea Davies and Noel Walsh were also arrested the same day at Cattlin Way, Oldham.

Ten men and women have now been sentenced for their crimes.

Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Norman, of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: "This was a lengthy and intricate operation dedicated to dismantling this criminal group.

"It's hard to comprehend just how damaging these weapons and drugs could've been on our streets had police not recovered them first.

"We've now managed to make sure these people remain in jail for a significant amount of time, and our community is now a safer place with them behind bars.

"I hope this operation sends a clear message that GMP will work relentlessly to pursue anyone involved in the supply or harmful drugs and weapons."

Jonathan Walsh, 34, of Warwick Road, Failsworth, plead guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering and was later found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm, conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to possess an explosive device after trial at Manchester Crown Court in September 2021. He was sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

Anthony Jones, 40, of Parkview Road, Liverpool, was found guilty after a trial at Manchester Crown Court in June 2021 of conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to possess an explosive device and sentenced to 15 years.

Joseph Raymond Grey, 57, of Hopgarth Walk, Manchester, pleaded guilty to firearm offences and he later pleaded guilty to drug offences and money laundering and was sentenced to eight and a half years in September 2021.

Kaylum Davies, 24, of Pirie Walk, Newton Heath, Manchester pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Class A Heroin and Class B (amphetamine and cannabis) for which he received a three year sentence.

Noel Walsh, 38, Cattlin Way, Oldham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B and money laundering. He was sentenced to three years.

Geoffrey Keenan 54, of Clough Road, Failsworth, Manchester, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B and possession with intent supply cocaine and heroin was sentenced to two years and four months.

The final offenders were sentenced on Tuesday, February 22, at Manchester Crown Court for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, conspiracy to transfer criminal property and money laundering. They are as follows:

Jodie Bowie, 32, Medlock Road, Failsworth, Manchester received 21 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

David Bowie, 52, Warwick Road, Failsworth, Manchester received 10 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

Janice Bowie ,53, Warwick Road, Failsworth, Manchester received 12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

Chelsea Davies, 27, Cattlin Way, Oldham, Manchester received 14 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Lee Bowie, 34, Falside Walk, Newton Heath, Manchester is due to be sentenced at a later date.

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