Gangster Edward Jarvis, a key player in an organised crime group led by Vincent Coggins, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his involvement in a menacing blackmail plot. Jarvis, 59, played a crucial role in trafficking large quantities of class A drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, with a street value amounting to millions of pounds. The gang orchestrated the supply of massive consignments of drugs to mid-level dealers in Merseyside and across the country. During the trial at Manchester Crown Court, it was revealed that the gang was responsible for the supply of 150kg of cocaine and 215kg of heroin in a brief conspiracy in early 2020.
In addition to drug trafficking, Jarvis, along with Coggins, Paul Woodford, and Michael Earle, planned a violent retaliation against individuals suspected of stealing over £1 million worth of cocaine from one of their stash houses. Their schemes, conducted over the EncroChat messaging platform, were intercepted by law enforcement after the platform was hacked in April 2020 by European authorities. Reporting on the gang’s activities had been subject to a media blackout until Jarvis was found guilty by a jury in May.
Jarvis, known by the handle “SoftHerb” on EncroChat, was actively involved in coordinating drug deals, communicating with other criminals, and facilitating the gang’s illicit operations. The court heard that Jarvis sent his location to other users, discussed drug sales, international shipments, and even planned violent attacks on individuals suspected of theft. Despite his prominent role in the criminal activities, Jarvis claimed to have been subordinate to Coggins and his brother, Francis, who has yet to face justice.
During the sentencing, the court heard that Jarvis suffered from health issues and had been on medication related to a heart condition. The Honourable Mr. Justice Dove highlighted Jarvis’ pivotal role in the drug trade, emphasizing his involvement in orchestrating drug deals, instructing couriers, and communicating with other criminal networks. Jarvis was handed a 25-year sentence for charges related to drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit blackmail, with consecutive sentences for each offence.
Despite the severity of the charges, Jarvis’s defence argued that his role was subservient to Coggins and that he did not engage in violent acts or the procurement of weapons. Nevertheless, the judge considered Jarvis’s involvement in the blackmail plot to be a very serious offence, involving threats to kill and a significant sum of money. Jarvis’s previous involvement in a plot to smuggle 600kg of cocaine resulted in a 28-year prison sentence in 2004.
The court’s decision to sentence Jarvis to 25 years in prison reflects the gravity of his actions and his integral role in the criminal activities of the gang led by Vincent Coggins. Jarvis’s involvement in drug trafficking and menacing blackmail activities has now led to a substantial prison term, underscoring the legal repercussions faced by those engaged in serious organised crime.