Two drug dealers have been sentenced to prison - with one still at large.

Under the anonymous handle of 'britishtrump', utilising EncroChat, Newcastle's Colin Hindmarsh labelled himself the biggest producer of amphetamine in the region.

Mr Hindmarsh also supplied cannabis using another EncroChat user, Robert Taylor of Wallsend, as a courier, driver and storeman.

The discovery was made in 2020 by Northumbria Police as part of Operation Venetic.

Mr Hindmarsh and Mr Taylor were arrested in April and August 2021, respectively, on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class B drugs.

Mr Hindmarsh pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply amphetamine.

He admitted producing and supplying 482 kilos of amphetamine, arranging to manufacture a further 260 kilos and supplying four kilos of cannabis with Mr Taylor.

Mr Taylor's case was heard in his absence after he fled the UK.

The jury found him guilty of conspiracy to supply amphetamine and cannabis, as well as converting criminal property after a Porsche 911 Turbo was recovered from his home.

Detective Chief Inspector Marc Michael said: "I hope this case serves as a warning to anyone thinking that they can get away with dealing drugs just because they use this type of technology to communicate: You won’t."

On Friday at Newcastle Crown Court, Mr Hindmarsh received a nine-year sentence, while Mr Taylor, who remains wanted, was sentenced to 7.5 years.