Jamie Rothwell, a key figure in Salford’s feared Anti A-Team gang, was caught supplying deadly weapons and moving huge quantities of drugs through messages on an encrypted phone network
A Salford gangster ordered shootings, arranged gun deals and moved huge quantities of drugs over an encrypted phone network, sending chilling messages such as: “Once you’re in, hard to go back.”
Jamie Rothwell, 38, a key figure in the city’s feared Anti A-Team gang, admitted conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to supply Class A cocaine and Class B ketamine, and two counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. Manchester Crown Court heard how Rothwell used Encrochat to plan violence and supply deadly weapons alongside a string of associates, including James Close – known as ‘Ballsniffer’ – as well as Craig Makinson and Callum Morris.
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In April 2020, Rothwell set his sights on rival Leon Cullen, telling one contact: “I’ve give Leon a way out… he a grass… he turned on me for nothing… tried kill me… while my daughter there… he my only enemy… when he lands in UK that’s when it starts.” He also targeted notorious gangster Liam Byrne, sharing Byrne’s address with user ‘Caperocket’ and sending Google Earth images. “I’m gonna do them all soon,” he wrote.
On April 24, a van linked to Rothwell was caught on CCTV outside a house in Warrington. Prosecutor Jaime Hamilton KC said: “David Barnes went to answer the door. He opened the door and recalled hearing the words ‘pizza delivery’. He also believed that he saw a number of pizza boxes.” Mr Hamilton added: “As the door was closing he heard two shots and a third shot after he closed the door. His recollection is that the third shot passed through the door and struck him in the leg.”
The next day, Rothwell bragged to ‘Caperocket’, saying “I done two same time.” When asked “who did you get yesterday” he replied: “I got the dad… Liam… I took Leon dad door of {sic} also.”
Rothwell’s Encrochat exchanges revealed his deep involvement in the illegal firearms trade. When Makinson messaged: “Any glocks,” Rothwell replied: “No bro… soon though mate… if u ever need one u could borrow.” Morris asked about cheap metals a 9mm or a pump shotgun, prompting Rothwell to send Makinson photos of AK-47s, saying “few aks for sale” at £10,500 each.
In one deal, Morris collected £10,500 from Makinson for an AK-47 in Warrington. Rothwell told him the gun would be loaded and to “be careful”. Minutes later, Morris sent him a photo of the weapon. Rothwell’s response was: “makes me hard that bro.”
On April 16, Morris offered to transport a pump-action shotgun for Rothwell. Later that month, Rothwell asked if there was a boat near Southampton to offload 28 kilos of cocaine. He also offered to “drop” Morris a Glock. In another conversation with username ‘Tubbytern’, Rothwell boasted: “I sent 300 straps home… I got RPG, M16, Aks, Glock Machines.” To Makinson, he claimed: “I sell a lot of Glocks.” He even referenced the case for which he was wanted at the time in the UK (offences of which he was ultimately acquitted) but referenced them as “because a few women got shot”.
Reflecting on the violence he was orchestrating, Rothwell told one associate: “when you have fire in your heart… you don’t stop… you get addicted… you lose everyone… you turn cold, no emotions…. egos at first I agree… but then when you in, hard to go back.”
Rothwell, of Grindon Avenue, Salford, is due to be sentenced later this week, along with ten other gang members over a catalogue of gun, drug and money laundering crimes tied to the Anti A-Team. The men being sentenced alongside him are Andrew Ackers, Scott Davies, Craig Makinson, John Moore, James Close, Callum Morris, Zak Rourke, Terence McDonagh and John Stankus.