Philip Waugh using the “AceProspect” handle, ordered hitman Jonathan Gordon to “double the dose bro…acid him and bird proper, blind them both…I just want his face melted”.
16:15, 11 Apr 2025Updated 16:26, 11 Apr 2025
Philip Waugh has been unmasked as EncroChat’s “AceProspect”(Image: NCA)
A ruthless gun trafficker who ordered a hitman to carry out a sickening acid attack can now be unmasked as the user of the “AceProspect” EncroChat handle. Philip Waugh, 39 and originally from the Warrington area, ordered a hired hitman to “melt the faces” of his enemies and demanded he “doubled the dose” to make sure as much damage was done as possible.
He also trafficked submachine guns and assault rifles on the encrypted messaging platform. Waugh has been on the run since the EncroChat network was hacked by European law enforcement in the early months of 2020, giving police forces around the world access to the shadowy goings-on which until then were done behind anonymous handles.
But Waugh, who was a significant target for the National Crime Agency’s Operation Venetic, was arrested in Malaga on the Spanish Costa del Sol and extradited back to the UK. He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon, Friday, April 11 for a plea hearing.
During the hearing before the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC, Waugh entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to possess/transfer prohibited weapons, five counts of transferring prohibited weapons and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. He also admitted one count of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) in relation to a man called Nathan Simpson.
Waugh denied a second count of conspiracy to cause GBH, in relation to a man called Joe Bradley. However, Alex Langhorn, prosecuting, told the court that “there is no public interest in seeking a trial on count nine” and it was ordered to lie on the file.
The indictment showed Waugh conspired with Jonathan Gordon, a known “Deli Mob” gang member, to cause harm to Mr Simpson, while also providing him with a handgun. The indictment also showed Waugh transferred a staggering arsenal of battlefield-grade weaponry including two AK47 assault rifles, an Uzi, a Skorpion submachine gun and handguns including Grand Power pistols, a Beretta M9, a TEC-9, a STR-9C and a Walther pistol.
Waugh, who appeared via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey Nike sweatshirt and sporting cropped dark hair, was joined in court by co-defendant Robert Brazendale. The 37-year-old, of HMP Altcourse, was arraigned on many of the same charges and pleaded guilty to five counts of transferring prohibited weapons, two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon and conspiracy to cause GBH to Mr Simpson.
All of the offences that Waugh, represented by Oliver Cook KC, and Brazendale, represented by Ian McMeekin, pleaded guilty to took place between January 2019 and July 2020. Brazendale, who wore a blue Nike top and sported dark, curly hair was supported by three members of his family. Waugh, who has a previous conviction for domestic abuse of a partner, was not supported in court.
NCA officers launched a probe in 2020 when officers discovered a then unidentified British crime boss was advertising a list of military grade weapons to UK crime groups. The information was discovered in Operation Venetic – the NCA-led response to the takedown of EncroChat by European partners.
Intelligence revealed the crime boss was overseas and NCA officers carried out a raid with Spanish National Police at a villa Waugh rented in Benahavis, Malaga. He was extradited last month and remanded to custody.
A spokesperson told the ECHO Waugh and his right hand man Brazendale took possession of the weapons and provided them to customers from various crime groups. Brazendale, formerly of Selworthy Drive in Warrington, was jailed for 11 years and three months, later reduced to 10 years on appeal, in February 2022 for transferring other firearms from the gun list.
Robert Brazendale was Philip Waugh’s right hand man
Ben Rutter, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “The NCA worked for five years to trace, locate and bring Philip Waugh to justice under Operation Venetic. He supplied an array of terrifying automatic and semi-automatic weaponry to offenders who were planning horrific crimes. He didn’t care at all about who might be killed in the process, he only cared about money.
“He is an extremely dangerous offender. The NCA will continue to do everything we can with partners at home and abroad to prevent organised crime groups trafficking firearms.”
Waugh and Brazendale will return to the same court to be sentenced on June 27.
‘Double the dose bro…acid him and bird proper…I just want his face melted’
Mysterious figure Waugh hid behind his EncroChat handle to order devastating violence on the streets of the north west. He did so by hiring hitman and known Deli Mob gangster Jonathan Gordon, who used the handle “ValuedBridge”. Gordon offered his services to Waugh, with messages seized after the hack revealing he charged £6,000 for an acid attack, rising to £10,000 to permanently blind the victim.
Jonathan Gordon, gangland enforcer who charged £6000 to carry out an acid attack, and plotted two more attacks. He is a member of the Deli Mob” crime gang
The conversations between the two men laid bare the sheer ruthlessness and cruelty of what they were prepared to do to control their position in the criminal underworld. Gordon set out plans to “cook” their enemies with acid, while gloating over the strength of the chemicals they had obtained to carry out the sick attacks.
The pair shared pictures of metal canisters overflowing with frothing acid, as well as handguns. Gordon hurled acid into the face of St Helens dad Lee Deakin in April 2019, while conversations with Waugh included suggestions to stab Simpson in the leg to prevent him from washing the acid off.
A photo of an acid canister shared on Encrochat messages between Deli Mob thug Jonathan Gordon and Philip Waugh(Image: NCA)
In one exchange Gordon referred back to the attack of Mr Deakin, bemoaning the fact that “c*** got to the sink”. Waugh, using the “AceProspect” handle, ordered Gordon to “double the dose bro…acid him and bird proper, blind them both…I just want his face melted”.
In a separate conversation, the pair revelled in the fact the acid had melted a metal container. Waugh said “f***ed that acid” and Gordon replied “proper one that bro”. Gordon also boasted to Waugh about his involvement in a series of shootings, including one message which said “let off a clip in the street”. A separate incident saw a bullet fly through the window of an elderly couple at their Walton home.
Gordon denied any wrongdoing, but was convicted by a jury of three counts of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, two of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, and one of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 24 years and eight months.