Drug dealer who used his pet dog's name as his alias jailed

Our dogged detectives got onto the tail of a drug dealer after they identified he had given himself the same alias as his pet on an encrypted phone network used by criminals.

The dog, called ‘Capone’, matched Nicholas Houtman’s Encrochat device handle, with detectives able to prove Houtman was a large-scale buyer and supplier of Class A drugs.

Officers uncovered Houtman, 30, sending messages about getting multiple kilos of “banging” cocaine delivered from across the country at prices ranging from £35,000 to £40,000 per kilo. He often made up to £500 to £1,000 profit by brokering deals.

Analysts found the most damning evidence against Houtman was the fact his Encro device password was stored in notes as “HOUTMANHOUTMAN”.

They were also able to trace the movements of the Encro device, which matched those of Houtman’s conventional phone.

Houtman was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.