Michael Ferry, 33, has been told he faces a sentence "north of 20 years" after admitting his part in the conspiracy to sell the class A drug on a commercial scale
A drugs kingpin who orchestrated a profitable cocaine racket from his prison cell - earning "footballers wages" - was told by an associate: "You are at the top in the North East and you are only in second gear".
Michael Ferry, dubbed an underworld Mr Big, managed to lead an organised crime group with a smuggled EncroChat device. The court was informed that he oversaw the distribution of 53 kilos of cocaine while serving time for a violent gang assault at a pub. When law enforcement cracked the EncroChat network, they discovered conversations between Ferry and a colleague discussing plans to amass £1m each within three years.
Described by prosecutors as a "feared and ruthless" gangland figure, Ferry is now staring down the barrel of a sentence "north of 20 years". Ferry, 33, had previously been sentenced to three years and nine months in 2019 for participating in a violent disorder during a brawl at The Fosse pub in the Walker area of Newcastle, in 2016. However, even from behind bars, he continued his criminal activities.
Evidence from messages indicated that Ferry had access to an Encrochat device in jail, which he used to command his illicit operations. An accomplice praised him, saying "you are destined for the top" and "you are at the top in the North East and you are only in second gear".
Ferry was dubbed an underworld Mr Big ( Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
Ian Mullarkey, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court, saying: "The prosecution say he played a leading role at the head of this conspiracy, clearly organising the buying and selling of drugs on a commercial scale with the expectation of substantial financial advantage.
"There’s talk of the amount his wife is to be paid as his share of the proceeds. It equates to £1,000 a week and they are described as footballer’s wages." Judge Stephen Earl added: "There’s talk of them having £1m each within three years." Mr Mullarkey added: "He is sufficiently determined, connected and sophisticated that he is able to direct this drug dealing operation despite being in prison custody. He threatens to resort to violence and threatens to enforce the enterprise."
Describing the defendant’s fearsome reputation, Mullarkey said: "He is a feared and ruthless criminal leading an organised crime group in the North East, carefully controlling the operation, directing the operation with designs on taking over the operations of others when he is released from prison.
"The prosecution say the defendant is a leading organiser of this criminal conspiracy, directing and controlling the supply of a substantial quantity of cocaine and also supplied cannabis as a wholesale business."
A cannabis farm housing 1,100 plants and capable of producing a significant amount of the drug was discovered, reports Teesside Live. Mr Mullarkey told the court that text messages indicated Ferry had ordered two instances of damage at an address in Killingworth, North Tyneside, and a tattoo parlour, where a vehicle was driven into the front of the shop.
He said: "This was a serious organised crime group who were not only dealing in vast quantities of controlled drugs but also had recourse to intimidation, threats and violence as and when required." Ferry, of no fixed address, admitted to conspiracy to supply 53 kilos of cocaine and conspiracy to produce cannabis.
Judge Earl warned Ferry that he faces a sentence "north of 20 years" but postponed the case to consider the length of sentence until next Tuesday. Daniel Barraclough, defending, said: "He is a man of violence, criminally and lawfully. He is a boxer. How did he become a drug trafficker? There may be a bit of people wanting to use him.
"People were buttering him up and using his name and violent character for their own gain, saying things like ’you can run the North East’. He has been, to an extent, used. He might have liked to have been that big man but this is not your archetypal drugs baron. He was in prison for several years during this.
"He was known by his physique and physical presence but he now has to face the fact he has to take responsibility. He is not as high in the scale of drug barons and heads of OCGs as my learned friend portrays."
Mr Barraclough handed in references about Ferry’s good side and said he has become a listener in prison and done various courses. He added: "He is someone who one can imagine the prison officers rely on because of his size, if there’s trouble. He has been a model prisoner. One prison he was in, he stopped all Spice taking."
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