A man who referred to himself as the “Pablo Escobar of Buxton” has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison for cocaine distribution and dangerous driving. Liam Churchman, 37, was convicted at Derby Crown Court following investigations into drug activity in the Derbyshire town.

Authorities uncovered text messages on Churchman’s phone in which he threatened to mutilate rivals by cutting off their ears, drawing a comparison to the notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. These messages emerged as part of the evidence seized during a police raid at a property in Buxton last year. Officers recovered cocaine and weighing scales, while videos found on Churchman’s devices showed him packaging drugs for sale.

Churchman, who has no fixed address, was previously arrested after crashing his vehicle while attempting to evade police during an earlier operation targeting drug activity. He admitted to charges of supplying cocaine and driving dangerously during the pursuit.

Following the sentencing, police described the investigation as lengthy but expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing the importance of removing Churchman from the community. The court handed down a sentence of five years and nine months’ imprisonment.