South Shields Drug Dealer Jailed 13 Years After EncroChat Tattoo ID

Dean Matthews, a cocaine dealer from South Shields, was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being identified through a distinctive "Ouch!" tattoo on his foot. Police linked Matthews to a drug trafficking operation involving the buying and selling of up to 22 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated £1 million, based on evidence obtained from the encrypted EncroChat network. Matthews had sent a photo of his tattoo in a message complaining about a broken flip-flop, which helped law enforcement connect him to the drug gang. Judge Amanda Rippon emphasized Matthews' leading role in organizing cocaine deals on a commercial scale between June 2019 and May 2020, noting that he ran up substantial debts during the operation. Following his arrest, Matthews suffered a serious brain injury, resulting in part of his skull being removed and causing memory and behavioral difficulties that will complicate his prison sentence. The tattoo evidence was pivotal in confirming his identity and involvement in the criminal enterprise.