Notorious gangster 'tired of criminal life' does strange dance as he's arrested

An infamous gangster who was jailed for 43 years performed a strange little dance after being nicked by cops.

Jamie Rothwell admitted to being addicted to "revenge, violence and racketeering" and was responsible for trafficking lethal arms as well as arranging large-scale drug deals. The 38-year-old, of Salford in Greater Manchester, fled the UK in 2015 after surviving a gun attack and had been living in luxury out in Barcelona until his capture.

From there, the fugitive was able to orchestrate his illegal operations using a messaging app called Encrochat, which some refer to as WhatsApp for criminals, which included ordering gangland hits. This comes after after a kickboxing champion takes dead body to police station as he hands himself in for murder.

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In May 2020, however, he was finally tracked down in Spain and taken into custody. Footage taken by Spanish cops showed the moment he was walked by officers with his hands handcuffed behind his back - only to skip and then jump up and kick his heels.

Rothwell also appeared chatty with cops and in an upbeat mood. Yet the gangster claimed he was "tired" of living a criminal life and instead now wants to help young people avoid taking the path he took.

He pleaded guilty to a number of gun and drug offences and was yesterday sentenced to more than four decades behind bars at Manchester Crown Court. Rothwell's jailing comprised a total of 18 years for drugs offences and a consecutive 25 year extended sentence for firearms offence, which includes 21 years in prison and an extra four years on licence.

Judge John Potter said Rothwell placed "hundreds of firearms into the UK". He also explained how the criminal said on Encrochat that he was involved in a "six month war" with someone and he "went on a rampage".

In addition, the court heard his dealing was at an "international level" with drugs deals worth millions of pounds. Judge Potter told him: "Mr Rothwell, you have lived much of your life as a professional criminal involved in serious organised crime.

"The offences you fall to be sentenced for graphically illustrate your willingness to follow this path and cause loss and misery to others as you do so." He added that Rothwell had, "obtained wealth by having access to millions of pounds of cash."

Reflecting on the violence he was responsible for, Rothwell told one associate: "When you have fire in your heart... you don't stop... you get addicted... you lose everyone... you turn cold, no emotions.... egos at first I agree... but then when you in, hard to go back."

His sentencing comes after he was brought to justice for ordering a shooting from Spain and for being involved in industrial-scale cocaine dealing. In February, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class A, namely cocaine, conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class B, namely ketamine and two counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

His crimes were revealed after European law enforcement infiltrated the EncroChat communications network, which was used by criminals who believed it was impenetrable. The court previously heard how Rothwell used Encrochat to plan violence and supply deadly weapons alongside a string of associates, including James Close - known as 'Ballsniffer' - as well as Craig Makinson and Callum Morris.

In April 2020, Rothwell set his sights on rival Leon Cullen, telling one contact: "I've give Leon a way out... he a grass... he turned on me for nothing... tried kill me... while my daughter there... he my only enemy... when he lands in UK that's when it starts." He also targeted notorious gangster Liam Byrne, sharing Byrne's address with user 'Caperocket' and sending Google Earth images. "I'm gonna do them all soon," he wrote.