UPDATE: |Ex-pro boxing champion unmasked – Manchester Evening News News

Carl ‘Dynamite’ Dilks reportedly turned to crime in the pandemic

A former professional boxing champion has been unmasked as a drugs “broker” who hid behind the name “Cherry Vape”.

The activities of Carl “Dynamite” Dilks were uncovered after the EncroChat encrypted communications platform was infiltrated by French police five years ago.

Dilks, the former British Masters light heavyweight champion, used EncroChat to traffic wholesale quantities of cocaine.

The dad-of-three from Netherton, Merseyside, was said to have turned to crime after fearing losing his family’s home due to the pandemic affecting his finances.

But Dilks is now facing years behind bars – despite only reaping “paltry” rewards from his criminality, a court heard.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Dilks worked as a “commodities broker” in the supply of drugs via EncroChat, the Liverpool Echo reports.

He worked alongside his associate Darren Schofield, a gang leader known as “Thor”, who plotted to import £140million of cocaine in the UK from Sierra Leone.

The 41-year-old defendant, using the “Cherry Vape” handle, also directed others, including Neil Maguire, the user of the account “Holy Book”, to collect and deliver illicit class A substances and thousands of pounds in cash.

Messages showed his involvement in discussions to supply at least 8kg of cocaine with the likes of “Golden Lad”, “Phone Fixer” and “Five Fingers”, leading to his arrest at his home address on Netherton Green on November 29 2023.

Alex Langhorn, prosecuting, added: “The crown say that he was his own man, operating his own deals as and when he chose.”

Sarah Holt, defending, told the court today: “It is incomprehensible to all who know Carl Dilks that he has found himself in the position he has found himself in today. Your honour has numerous letters written on his behalf by those who know him best. They are a reflection of the man Carl Dilks really is.

“I do submit that he was only involved for a very short period of time. He was not someone who was part of a wider crime syndicate, in cahoots with those who are criminally sophisticated. He became involved for a short period because of the lockdown period and the financial hardship that he was experiencing at the time.

“He had a lack of financial income because of the lockdown, and there was the threat of losing the family home. He agreed to help Darren Schofield, who was an associate who he had known for some time.

“Not only was he not a leading member, he was not a member. That which he was doing he was doing for Darren Schofield, helping out and acting under direction. Everything he did was at the request of Darren Schofield. None of the cocaine was his. It belonged to others.

“The prosecution accept that Carl Dilks is not as criminally sophisticated as many others who have already been dealt with as part of this case. I am going to suggest that the role played by Mr Dilks was a very limited one for a limited time.

“He knows that he has let his wife down and his children and his wider family down, and that he has let them down very badly. Your honour will see the anger, but also the love and support, which is apparent from her letter. He has let them down in a way which is far worse than any financial hardship that lockdown could have brought.

“His actions did not result in any significant financial benefit. His benefit, I suggest, was paltry when one considers the overall loss to him and his family. His benefit was hundreds and not thousands, and certainly not hundreds of thousands.

“The lifestyle he had, the house he had, does not bear out someone with a lavish, drug dealing lifestyle. He has a modest family home. He and his wife work. Everything up until this point which he and his wife earned went on bills, the family home and the children.

“His children and his wife are his only concern. Telling the children was perhaps the hardest thing that he and his wife had to do. It is not their fault and it is not his wife’s fault. She had no idea what was happening.

“She will now have to care for the three children alone and provide for the family alone. It is a burden placed upon her by Mr Dilks, and that is not lost on him.

“He has always worked. He has worked hard. He has been actively involved in all of his children’s lives. He has volunteered his time in the boxing community, giving back regularly with dedication. He served his country. He was in the King’s Regiment, in a warzone aged 19. He has been working away on the railways.”

Dilks admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine. Wearing a grey Under Armour jumper in the dock, he was jailed for eight years and eight months yesterday afternoon, Wednesday.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Harris said: “You were heavily and extensively involved in serious crime. This offence is in a completely different league to your previous convictions.

“Dealing drugs is an evil trade. Drugs cause untold misery to individuals and communities. Drug abuse leads to considerable acquisitive crime and violence, often lethal violence. You voluntarily and enthusiastically entered this society.

“You did not work for either Maguire or Schofield. Valuable drugs were supplied between the three of you and others, depending on stock. You directed Maguire to pay cash and deliver drugs to others. Schofield and you were operating at a similar level, with Maguire underneath you.

“Bluntly, people like you never expected to be detected because of the use of these sophisticated telephones and aliases. You steeped yourself in serious drug dealing until word got around that the EncroChat system had been compromised.

“I have been supplied with very impressive references. Your wife has written to me and set out the strength of your family life. She mentions the obvious point about how much your three children will miss you. Sadly, their position has been caused by your criminality and failure to consider the consequences of your actions.

“You have no relevant previous convictions. I am satisfied that you have demonstrated remorse. Testimonials speak very highly about your usual personal characteristics and altruism in assisting others in the community, both in football and boxing endeavours.”