A man who acted as a “deal maker” attempted to facilitate the sale of large quantities of cocaine from his residence in Spain.

Brett Smith, 41, from Blackburn, used an encrypted mobile phone to communicate with a man called Usman Akhter about the supply of the drug.

In 2021, Akhter was jailed for 13 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis.

Preston Crown Court heard how on April 5 2020, the defendant was in Malaga, Spain, and operated an EncroChat handle which he used to talk to Akhter.

Conversations on the devices showed messages which were believed to be about sourcing cocaine wholesale in the UK.

Following that conversation, an image was sent believed to be of cocaine along with a message saying ’41 to you obviously’.

On April 9, Smith again contacted Akhter with similar messages to April 5.

The court heard this suggested he had customers in position ready to buy kilogram deals of the drug for cash, offering to beat any price.

Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of offering to supply cocaine at a pre-trial review on May 5.

He has five convictions for six offences between 2001 and 2017, and was previously given a suspended sentence for the importation and supply of controlled drugs in Ireland.

Mitigating for Smith, Simon Gurney said: “The essence of the offence is encouraging rather than assisting. There are two messages on two dates three years ago where he encouraged the commission of those offences.

“There is no suggestion of any ongoing perseverance or ongoing persuasion. He is, on the face of the messages, a middleman. He is, on the face of it, making a modest commission. He is not the person with access to the drugs, he is not the person who stands to make the most profit from this sale.”

Giving background to Smith’s suspended sentence, he explained Smith had been working as a TV engineer in Ireland but could not continue with that after injuring his shoulder.

This led him into debt and into contact with those supplying drugs. He agreed to be involved in the supply of class C drugs.

He then left Ireland and went to live in Spain, initially finding work until the pandemic hit in 2020, which led him to find contact with the drug suppliers again.

When Smith returned to the UK to undergo training for another job, he was arrested at the airport and has been on remand since.

Mr Gurney said Smith has made “real and substantial efforts” to put his life back on track and he “recognises the impact of the mistakes he made.”

Sentencing, Recorder Daniel Lister said: “In reality you were attempting to facilitate the supply of large quantities of cocaine. You were discussing the wholesale prices of cocaine with Mr Akhter. You attempted to arrange the supply of a kilogram of cocaine.

“On April 9, there was more of the same. You were trying to create an ongoing relationship with Akhter so he could be supplied with drugs. Ultimately, there is no evidence of any of that transpiring or any drugs being supplied from your role of what looked like a facilitator.

“Fundamentally, you were a deal maker, clearly with connections to serious drug dealers.

“In the time passed from April 2020, you have moved forward and put your offending behind you. You have gained employment prospects and I hope those opportunities will remain for you when you are released from custody.

“You did not end up facilitating the sale of the drugs.”

Recorder Lister sentenced Smith, of Infirmary Road, Blackburn, to a total of four years in prison.