‘Scouse Kenny’ has now been put back behind bars doing more than 2,000 drug deals
Jamie Horgan, of no fixed address, aged 31(Image: Merseyside Police)
A drug dealer who previously kept an arsenal of weapons in his prison cell due to there being “too many divvies” on his wing has been sent back to jail. Jamie Horgan moved to the Scottish Highlands seeking a fresh start away from a life of crime.
But the dad instead carried out more than 2,000 heroin and crack deals using the pseudonym “Scouse Kenny”. His “foolish” actions under this secret identity were ultimately discovered after he gave his phone number to a police officer.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this week that an investigation into county lines drug dealing identified a phone number advertising class A drugs for sale under the nickname “Scouse Kenny”. This device was found to have been located in the Inverness area on March 4 last year, when it was used to send a total of 50 texts over a 40-minute period.
Samuel Barker, prosecuting, described how the phone was then placed in the Speke area two days later, as per cell siting data. The number then operated in both Liverpool and Scotland over the course of the following five months, sending out bulk messages in order to alert potential customers to the availability of heroin and crack cocaine for sale until his eventual arrest in September.
Horgan, of no fixed address but previously of Hardman Street in Liverpool city centre, had previously been present when police attended an address on July 9, with the defendant being required to give his personal phone number to officers as a result of him being on licence at the time. This device was found to co-locate with that of Scouse Kenny “at least 19 times”, as was a hire car leased in the 31-year-old’s name.
His criminal record shows a total of 21 previous convictions for 59 offences, including eight months for dangerous driving in December 2025 and an eight-year sentence for a string of burglaries in 2021. The ECHO previously reported that this saw him ransack homes across Widnes and Warrington, making off with jewellery, cars worth a combined total of nearly £100,000, a handbag and a purse.
Some of these break-ins occurred while his victims slept, with Horgan even unwrapping their Christmas presents while on the hunt for loot. When held on remand, he was found in possession of a broom handle which had three metal spikes secured to it using a phone cable amongst several other “pokies”.
Horgan, who had previously had his jaw brokenbehind bars, confessed to guards when the improvised weapons were discovered in his cell: “I’ve done enough time. I know how it works. I’ve got a few pokies down the side of my bed. There’s too many divvies on this wing. I’ve got to protect myself.”
Carmel Wilde, defending Horgan during his latest appearance, told the court: “The defendant indicates that his life was in a bad time at the time of this offending. He had various family issues. He accepts that he was frustrated and was not in the right place mentally.
“Clearly, in custody, he is able to remain drug free. He accepts that this was a very foolish thing to do. Ironically, he said he moved away from Liverpool to try and get out of trouble and away from peer influences, but, unfortunately, he got involved with others.
“In custody he is trying to better himself, undertaking courses with psychologists to assist his rehabilitation. He is employed as a wing cleaner. Clearly, he is behaving himself while in custody and he has the support of his partner of six years. He simply wishes to know his fate and be able to get his head down and continue his rehabilitation whilst in custody.”
Horgan admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. Appearing via video link to HMP Garth wearing a grey Berghaus tracksuit top and shorts, he was jailed for three years.
Sentencing, Recorder Andrew Vinson said: “You operated county lines drugs graft phones, originally operating in Scotland but moving down to Liverpool, during which time just short of 2,300 deals took place. You had an operational function in the manning of that phone.
“You must have had some awareness of the scale of the operation. You were supplying directly to end users. The offences were committed while you were on licence. You have previous convictions. The only drug offence dates as far back as 2010 and is for simple possession.
“I note that, at the time of this offending, you were having family difficulties with the mother of your 10-year-old child. You were struggling financially. You were dealing with your own cocaine use and had moved to Scotland to remove yourself from negative influences in Liverpool. Unfortunately, you did not succeed.
“You are undertaking various courses in maths, English and other matters. Those are to your credit, and you are using your time in prison wisely.”