Leeds student ran drug empire modelling himself on Breaking Bad character

The ringleader of a group of students who ran a drug dealing empire using an internet black market website has been jailed for four years.
Leeds Met student Liam Reynolds who was jailed for four years for drug importation and supply offences.Leeds Met student Liam Reynolds who was jailed for four years for drug importation and supply offences.
Leeds Met student Liam Reynolds who was jailed for four years for drug importation and supply offences.

The friends, who were mainly international business students at what was then Leeds Metropolitan University, made use of the now defunct Silk Road website, which was part of the internet’s so-called Dark Web that is hidden from public view.

They imported an array of illegal drugs into the country and made money selling them to their fellow students.

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Ringleader Liam Reynolds, 21, ran the operation from a student house in Headingley Mount, Headingley, Leeds, where other members of the group lived.

Reynolds is thought to have modelled himself on the lead character from television’s Breaking Bad, which features Walter White, a teacher who moves into the drugs trade to pay for his medical bills. References to the programme were found in text messages on their phones along with a T-shirt featuring an image of the character.

Over a prolonged period they ordered consignments of MDMA, LSD and cannabis from international suppliers through the website and the drugs were sent to the UK by post.

Payments were made using Bitcoin – a digital form of currency that can be used without the buyer’s identity being revealed.

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Police uncovered the organised drugs operation after receiving information that the group were involved in drugs.

Breaking badBreaking bad
Breaking bad

A parcel containing a large amount of cannabis was seized and other evidence was discovered as a result of a comprehensive investigation by detectives in Leeds.

Incriminating text messages containing overt references to drugs transactions were discovered along with photographs of drugs and images of members of the group posing with drugs and cash.

Following a lengthy and complex investigation the ten members of the group were charged in May last year with a range of offences including conspiracy to import controlled drugs and conspiracy to supply controlled drugs.

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Reynolds was the only member of the group to be sentenced to immediate custody. Nine others were given suspended sentences and ordered to do unpaid work.

Judge James Spencer, QC, told the students: “You no doubt went to university with your ambitions very high, and your self assessment very high, and you think you know everything and you think you can do everything without any responsibility.

“It may come as a shock to you that the law applies equally to you as everybody else. If you engage in this trade of illicit drugs then you can get yourself into trouble that can be life-changing.”

The judge told Reynolds: “You are the one who was to benefit most and you are the one who has to carry the can and bear the greatest responsibility.”