The heroin and cocaine trafficker operated his own ’boutique’ business which saw hundreds of thousands of pounds change hands
A heroin and cocaine trafficker plotted to source an AK-47 and shoot his enemies over a stolen stash of drugs. David Dunn utilised the handle “TrunkCrocodile” on encrypted communications platform EncroChat in order to trade wholesale quantities of illicit class A and B substances.
He was said to have operated his own “boutique” business, which saw hundreds of thousands of pounds in dirty cash change hands. But, years down the line, he was arrested on the continent as his secret past finally caught up with him.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Thursday, that messages revealed when the network was infiltrated by French police during 2020 showed Dunn’s involvement in the supply of at least 39kg of heroin, 14.36kg of cocaine and 46kg of ketamine. Alex Langhorn, prosecuting, described how the 32-year-old, formerly of Longview Drive in Huyton, was also involved in conversations regarding “substantial” sums of money totalling around half a million pounds.
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He also “sought to obtain” an AK-47 and “brokered” the sale of a Glock pistol, which had been discharged previously, alongside a quantity of ammunition. Dunn meanwhile “discussed extreme violence” relating to “drugs he believed had been stolen from him”, hatching plans to shoot his rivals in the legs or stomach.
Mr Langhorn told the court that the defendant had “primarily operated his own boutique operation” and employed his own courier, whom he paid £250 per kilogram of drugs transported while collecting commodities from as far a field as Newcastle, Wales and London. He meanwhile “hoped for regular deliveries” from the capital of up to 10kg per run.
Merseyside Police subsequently extradited Dunn, who has no previous convictions, back to the UK from Spain in April this year. Damien Nolan, defending, said on his behalf: “The defendant is entirely realistic. He has become involved in serious offending. He recognises, inevitably, that what follows is a condign sentence.
“The sentence would be condign even for someone immersed in criminal activity. He is going to have imposed upon him his first custodial sentence.
“This defendant recognises the gravity of what he has been involved in. He is not to be sentenced in respect of any offence of violence. The court is still left with serious offences.
“On occasions, the defendant is acting in a brokering role. He recognises that, when one looks at the bulk of his offending, he is operating his own enterprise.
“The defendant has the support of his family. His father has attended the building but, frankly, he found it too difficult to come in to watch. Others have have found it too difficult to witness these proceedings. His family are very concerned for him. The impact is going to be significant upon them.
“Since going to prison, he has performed in a way that has made him a trusted prisoner. To his credit, he is involved in a number of jobs in prison. The indications are that he is applying himself in a fruitful way.”
Dunn admitted conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine and ketamine, conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons and possession of a prohibited weapon. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for 20 years.
Sentencing, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: “You are someone with no previous convictions and, plainly, you have no previous experience of imprisonment. The circumstances of these offences do, in my judgement, underline the vicious reality of serious organised crime – class A drugs and firearms and, of course, the two in combination.”
