Brave New World
/
Caution: stay off Facebook
A drug dealer has been jailed for more than 13 years after police got his ID from fingerprints he left on a block of Stilton.
Carl Stewart, 39, from Vauxhall, Liverpool, used the EncroChat encryption service to evade detection as he supplied class A and B drugs.
He used the handle 'Toffeeforce' to hide his identity, but law enforcement agencies managed to crack the encryption device.
Stewart was identified after he shared an image of a block of cheese in the palm of his hand, and his fingerprints were analysed.
He was jailed for 13 years and six months on Friday 21 May after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin at Liverpool Crown Court.
Stewart also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply MDMA, conspiracy to supply ketamine and transferring criminal property.
Detective Inspector Lee Wilkinson of Merseyside Police said: 'Today we have seen another significant sentencing as part of national Operation Venetic, which came about after law enforcement officials in Europe managed to crack the 'encrochat' service being used by criminals involved in serious and organised crime to carry out their business.
'Carl Stewart was involved in supplying large amounts of class A and B drugs, but was caught out by his love of Stilton cheese, after sharing a picture of a block of it in his hand through encrochat.
'His palm and fingerprints were analysed from this picture and it was established they belonged to Stewart.'
Thirteen years on the lam, 13 1/2 years in jail; seems appropriately balanced.
