Boxing coach jailed for cocaine supply conspiracy
A world champion boxing trainer and manager has been jailed for 10 years for his part in a conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Andrew Bulcroft, known as Stefy Bull, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court earlier after being found guilty following a trial in February.
Co-defendant Benjamin Williams was also jailed for 10 years for the same offence, but given a 15% reduction on his sentence due to his guilty plea before trial.
Judge Peter Hampton said both men had been "motivated by financial greed".
A former professional boxer turned trainer, manager and promoter, Bull's stable had included champions at British, European and world level.
He helped guide the career of three-weight female world champion Terri Harper, as well as several other Doncaster-based fighters, who have competed at international level.
They include Jamie McDonnell, Maxi Hughes and Jason Cunningham.
Bulcroft, of Crane Moore Close in Harlington, denied the charge against him but a jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict after the four-day trial.
'Scant mitigation'
Judge Hampton said Bulcroft had since admitted his guilt and spoken of his "remorse".
He told him: "The reality is you chanced your arm at trial, just as you chanced your arm at offending."
Judge Hampton said Bulcroft had "often played for high stakes" in his boxing career and had done the same in the drugs world.
He said he accepted the 48-year-old had "changed lives in a positive way" through boxing – and revealed he had been "making constructive use" of his time on remand –but told Bulcroft he had otherwise "utterly betrayed" his previous good work.
"You seek to blame your offending upon your financial circumstances at the time of the coronavirus lockdown period. I'm afraid, in my judgement, that's scant mitigation.
"You and Mr Williams only have yourselves to blame."
The court heard Bulcroft and Williams, 42, used the Encrochat encrypted phone network buy the drugs.
Judge Hampton said the pair were the "middle men" and purchased the drugs wholesale from Christopher and Jonathan McAllister – who were jailed in 2022 for importing Class A drugs – before supplying them to be sold in South Yorkshire.
Bulcroft was said to have used Encrochat, an encrypted phone network, to communicate with an individual from Spain yet to be identified, who had advised him of the process of buying kilos of cocaine priced between £34,000 and £37,000.
Judge Hampton said he had "retailed" about 5kg of the drug, "no doubt to significant financial profit".
Williams sold between two and three kilos of cocaine, the judge added.
Officers found £84,000 in cash stashed inside a safe in a fortified outbuilding when they arrested Williams, 43, at his house on Church Street in Mexborough in June 2020, as well as £9,500 of cocaine and £105 of cannabis.
Both men initially denied any wrongdoing during police interviews.
Judge Hampton said the pair thought they were "untouchable" through their use of Encrochat, adding: "The fact you are here now for your sentence shows that you got that very badly wrong".
Williams was also sentenced to five years and five months in prison for possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
He was given a sentence of two years and six months for possessing cannabis with intent to supply and a further sentence of two years and one month for possessing criminal property.
All of the sentences will be served concurrently.
Both men, who appeared in court via video link from HMP Doncaster, were told they would serve up to 40% of their sentences in jail.
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