Michael Hagan, 34, of Middlesbrough, was jailed for 11 years at Teesside Crown Court for conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis on a wholesale scale during the first coronavirus lockdown in 2020.[1] He sold 11 kg of cocaine and what the prosecution said must be in excess of 10 kg of cannabis over a 14-week period between March and June 2020, the court heard.[1]

Police cracked the EncroChat encrypted messaging network in 2020 and found Hagan using the handle Vocal Dove, the BBC reported.[2] Messages read to the court by prosecutor Christopher Rose KC had Hagan calling himself a wholesaler and discussing 7 kg of good quality cannabis, a kilo bought from some Albanians in Sheffield, couriers paid £1,500 and deliveries to Hartlepool, Preston and London.[1]

Hagan denied the offences at first but admitted conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs in July 2024, then left the country before he could be sentenced, returning in August 2026 to hand himself in, where he admitted failing to surrender for his previous court appearance.[2] Judge Peter Armstrong told Hagan he squarely fell into a leading role organising the buying and selling of drugs on a commercial scale, and said the case involved tens of thousands of pounds.[2] His barrister, James Hines KC, argued Hagan was not running the drugs organisation and panicked when his trial was listed, while the judge said the flight delayed him facing justice for two years.[2] Hagan, of Liverton Avenue, Newport, Middlesbrough, was told he will face a proceeds of crime application to recover his criminal profits.[1]