Cries of “god” as the taxi driver with a secret is locked up

A taxi driver and former postman whose son was a promising Everton Academy footballer was secretly part of a major heroin and cocaine ring.

Kevin Rimmer acted as a courier for the conspiracy led by Vincent and Francis Coggins, which involved trafficking hundreds of kilograms of Class A drugs worth millions of pounds across the country. The Huyton brothers also set out on a ruthless revenge spree of violence after a raid on their home by rival gangsters saw them lose £1 million worth of illicit substances to the region.

A series of court cases heard in the last four years were subject to a media blackout until this week, after the conclusion of the trial of co-conspirator Edward Jarvis. Details of Rimmer’s October 2022 sentencing hearing can therefore finally be reported.

READ MORE: The pervert asked the police “is this about the videos” when they came knocking on his door

READ MORE: Michael Riccio puts his head in his hands after being found guilty of a ‘revenge’ plot

Liverpool Crown Court heard on this occasion that the 57-year-old, of Blacklow Brow in Huyton, was a taxi driver who completed deliveries for the NHS at the height of the covid pandemic, but used these journeys as cover to transport drugs and cash. in case he was stopped by the police under confinement restrictions. Alex Leach KC, prosecuting, described how he was also responsible for storing heroin and cocaine and “handled large amounts of cash” – worth up to £100,000 – and “was responsible for monitoring stock levels “.

Andrew Alty, defending, told the court his client acted as a carer for his 87-year-old mother. He added that Rimmer – who also previously worked for Royal Mail and was a father of four, including 17-year-old twins, one of whom was said to be playing for Everton’s academy – was “someone who had clearly worked of hard. throughout his life’ and ‘at all times acted under the direction of others’.

Mr Alty said: “This is going to be a terrible time for him. His life is effectively over now.”

Rimmer admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply heroin and conspiracy to supply cocaine, as well as possession of heroin in relation to a small quantity of the Class A drug which was seized upon his arrest. Family members in the public gallery wept and said “oh my god” as he was jailed for 16 years.

Vincent Coggins, 58, of Woodpecker Close in West Derby, Paul Woodford, 58, of Marl Road in Kirkby, and Michael Earle, 48, of Wallace Drive in Huyton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and conspiracy to commit blackmail. They were jailed for 28 years, 28 and a half years and 11 years respectively.

Dean Borrows, 39, also of Ledson Grove in Aughton, Darren Tierney, 46, of Chatham Street in Stockport, Paul Fitzsimmons, 60, of Birch Tree Court in West Derby , admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin. They were handed terms of 14 years and three months, 12 years and nine months and 12 and a half years.

Paul Glynn, of Croxdale Road West in West Derby, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine. The 59-year-old man received 11 years and two months.

Edward Jarvis, of Breckside Park in Anfield, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and blackmail. The 59-year-old will be sentenced at a later date.

Francis Coggins has not yet been caught but is wanted by the North West Regional Organized Crime Unit. He is believed to be abroad in Europe.

Don’t miss the biggest and breaking stories by subscribing to the Echo Daily newsletter here