SHAME SHAME
SCOTTISH PAEDOPHILE CABBIE CAUGHT IN POLICE STING AFTER SICK MESSAGES TO DECOY
A taxi driver from Lanarkshire, Scotland, has been placed on the sex offenders’ register after being caught in an undercover police sting. Aaron Burnicle, 36, was snared in a cross-border investigation after he sent explicit messages and images to what he believed was a 13-year- old girl on the messaging app Kik. The “girl,” however, was a specially trained undercover police officer. Information from the chats, which took place between December 2023 and January 2024, was
handed over to Police Scotland. Following his arrest, Burnicle, a father of one, contracted to convey primary school age children to school with a chaperone, wept and claimed, “I would never touch a wean.” Burnicle admitted to indecent communications with a child.
The court heard that a search of his phone revealed the Kik chat and images he had sent. Depute fiscal Rosemary O’Neill noted that data from his IP address showed he had been on the Kik app more than 2,900 times in less than a month. Burnicle’s defence lawyer, Eddie Robertson, stated that there were “issues with drink and cocaine.” Sheriff Liam Murphy has deferred sentencing for reports, warning Burnicle: “You have pleaded guilty to a very serious offence.”
LIVERPOOL CABBIE JAILED FOR 12 YEARS AFTER ENCROCHAT MESSAGES EXPOSED DRUG DEALING
A Liverpool drug dealer and taxi driver has been jailed for 12 years after a slew of incriminating Encrochat messages, including a photo of his own driveway, led to his arrest. Rudi Caldwell, 37, from Woolton, was arrested at his home in April 2025 as part of Operation Venetic, a widespread international effort targeting criminals who used the encrypted Encrochat platform to evade police. On Friday, August 1, Caldwell appeared at Liverpool Crown Court and pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply Class A drugs (cocaine and heroin) and a Class B drug (cannabis). Caldwell, who used the Encrochat handle ‘box-bat’, was caught out after detectives uncovered messages that identified him as a leading figure in the supply of large quantities of drugs. In his
50
messages, he gave up personal details, including the name of one of his children, and sent a picture of his own CCTV sys- tem showing his front driveway. He also discussed trading his licensed taxi vehicles. Det Insp James Boardman said: “Through our investigation, we were able to identify Caldwell as being the person behind the ‘box- bat’ handle after he used the device and disclosed personal details.” Between March and June 2020, Caldwell was linked to supplying 16kg of cocaine, 2kg of heroin, and 14kg of cannabis. Messages showed him working closely with an associate named “BondBat” to source
and supply kilogram amounts of drugs.
The court heard that Caldwell even plotted to build an underground drug factory and planned to buy a house with a greenhouse specifically to grow cannabis. He also spoke of attacking a rival dealer and his partner to steal their stock.
When officers arrested Caldwell, they seized two Rolex watches from his home. He has nine previous convictions for 13 offences, including possession of drugs. Caldwell, appearing via video link from HMP Liverpool, showed no reaction as he was sentenced. Detective Inspector Boardman said of the case: “Caldwell is just the latest person to be brought to justice for their involvement in the wide scale peddling of drugs on the streets of Merseyside,” adding that the work to target other criminals would continue
SEPTEMBER 2025 PHTM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74
