'Today, your mother loses both her sons': Brothers jailed over £1.4m conspiracy

Two brothers who used an encrypted messaging system to purchase and sell huge amounts of cocaine worth as much as £1.4 million now face a decade behind bars.

Thomas and Matthew Parkhouse were rumbled after French authorities penetrated the EncroChat server in 2020. The court heard how Thomas Parkhouse used the EncroChat devices to purchase large quantities of the Class A drug, while his brother Matthew would store them and prepare bricks for sale in his house.

At a sentencing on Wednesday (October 30), Judge Angela Nield said the pair's mother had 'lost both her sons for quite some time' as she sentenced Thomas to 10 years and nine months in prison and Matthre to nine years and two months.

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The court heard the brothers were involved in a conspiracy to supply six kilograms of cocaine between March and June 2020. Under the handles 'SouthernDog' and 'SapphireWarrior', Thomas Parkhouse communicated with and bought cocaine from a number of other EncroChat users.

Messages sent from his handles revealed he would send the drugs to his brother's address - referenced as 'Mykid' - where they would be 'bashed', mixed, and stored. On one occasion, prosecutor Jamie Baxter said Thomas, 36, attempted to 'flip' the purchase of one kilogram of cocoaine immediately, therefore not involving his brother on a single instance.

"The prosecution's case is that Thomas Parkhouse would source drugs using these devices and provide them to Matthew Parkhouse to stash for onwards supply," Mr Baxter said. He added there were 'significant' cash proceeds, with messages discussing Matthew Parkhouse storing £22,000.

Between April and June 2020, French authorities hacked the EncroChat server as part of a huge investigation. With messages no longer encrypted, the brother's criminal trades were laid bare and they were arrested in April 2023 at their home addresses.

The court heard when police stormed Thomas' house they also found 1.4 kilograms of cannabis, worth £10,000, and at Matthew's address they found 97 grams of cocaine and £80 worth of cannabis.

The brothers were interviewed under caution and answered no comment to all questions, Mr Baxter said. They were later charged with conspriacy to supply Class A drugs, and posession with intent to supply Class B drugs. Thomas Parkhouse was also charged with conspiracy with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Mitigating for Thomas Parkhouse, Mr John Parry-Jones described him as 'industrious'. He said his references show a man who is 'utterly different to what you would have imagined,' and that 'difficult' family circumstances including ongoing illness left him as a carer to his four children, wife, and mother.

Representing Matthew Parkhouse, Ms Cheryl Mottram said he was 'thoroughly ashamed' of his actions and that there was 'genuine remorse'.

Sentencing the brothers, Judge Nield told them that as part of their sentence they would need to bear the guilt they 'clearly feel' in respect of their families.

"Your actions have left your family without a clearly valued support," she said, addressing Thomas. "As parent and carer for both your children, your wife, and also your mother who today loses both her sons and will for some time."

Thomas Parkhouse, of Southwood Road, Stockport, was sentenced to 10 years and nine months in prison. Matthew Parkhouse, of Hathersage Road, Manchester, was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison.