Joseph Toole was identified when he discussed his children’s birthday on the encrypted platform
Joseph Toole, 55, (R) and Lawrence Hill, 52 (L)(Image: Merseyside Police)
Two operational figures in a major organised crime group (OCG) helped with the supply and distribution of heroin, cocaine and cannabis across the UK. Joseph Toole and Lawrence Hill appeared at Liverpool Crown Court this morning, September 22, after they were found to have played leading roles in the Merseyside-based OCG.
Merseyside Police found encrypted messages on the platform EncroChat where Toole and Hill would liaise with user “JabbaTheHutt”. 55-year-old Toole, who went by “SummerHillNew”, and Hill, who went by “FrostyHand”, took managerial roles in the wholesale of drugs that were deemed to be in “eye-watering amounts even for an EncroChat case” by Recorder Michelle Brown, who was presiding over the sentencing.
Toole, who was said to “keep books” for the OCG, was seen to be a leading player and had a hand in the conspiracy to supply 249kg of cocaine, 125kg of heroin and 441kg of cannabis. Messages found on the server, which was cracked in 2020 by international law enforcement, showed several messages between him and Jabba.
His role included collecting money and arranging the shipments of class A drugs for the crime group, as well as organising encrypted devices for others.
Toole was a “hands on” figure, the judge said, as well as working closely with the original sources of the drugs. In the messages with Jabba he was found to refer to the large amounts of drugs and money as “ours” and would pay the wages of the henchmen in the group.
A block of cocaine recovered following the arrests of Joseph Toole and Lawrence Hill
He was identified by officers after discussing his birthday as well as those of his children. He also provided details of the death of a relative and the subsequent funeral.
Toole, wearing a blue Under Armour jacket, was sat alongside Hill, described as his “right-hand man”, during the sentencing. 52-year-old Hill, who was found to have been concerned in conspiracy to supply 262kg of cocaine and 111kg of heroin, also had an operational role in the drugs plot as he would collect money and co-ordinate deliveries.
Miss Brown described him as a “trusted member of this crime enterprise” and when police raided his house following the pair’s arrest, officers recovered £10,800 in cash.
When Toole’s house was also raided after the arrests at their home addresses on March 17 this year officers found designer clothes and bags with a value of £7,000.
Stella Hayden, prosecuting, explained how the OCG was “well-established” and supplied drugs to Bristol and Yorkshire, with evidence showing the pair organised the distribution of cocaine at least between September 2018 and July 2020.
They were also found to have been concerned in the distribution of heroin between December 2019 and July 2020, with Toole also found to have helped with the supply of cannabis between September 2018 and July 2020.
A block of heroin recovered following the arrests of Joseph Toole and Lawrence Hill
Frank Dillon, defending Toole, said the dad had entered a guilty plea at the earliest moment during a hearing in Liverpool Magistrates’ Court earlier this year and again when he was arraigned in crown court as well as having a long list of medical conditions such as glaucoma and arthritis in his knees.
Toole, of Aysgarth Avenue, in West Derby, was also said to have carried out a number of jobs while being on remand, as he was looking to “live a law-abiding life” when he is eventually released.
In a letter from Toole to the judge, he said he was “aware of the damage I’ve done”. He added: “I don’t want my family to suffer because of my bad choices.”
Similarly, Hill, who was defended by Jason Smith, has taken up jobs while in prison and also entered guilty pleas at the earliest possible opportunity.
Joseph Toole was sentenced to 16 years in prison, with Lawrence Hill jailed for 13 years. Both remained silent as they were told of their fate.
Detective Sergeant Craig Doyle said: “Our work continues under Operation Venetic to detect and arrest those involved in the sale and distribution of Class A and B drugs.
“We are committed to pro-actively investigating serious organised crime and we remain relentless in pursuing offenders.
“Our work to prevent criminals from targeting the vulnerable people in our communities with illicit drugs goes on and we would always encourage members of the public to contact us if they have any information which could assist with our enquiries.”
Anyone who has information about drug dealing in their community can contact police by sending a DM to @MerPolCC, calling 101 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.