2025-07-26T19:35:46Z

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Can you believe that a 30-year-old drug dealer is behind bars for over ten years, all thanks to his famous dad? It's a wild twist in the world of crime and celebrity connections!

Meet Thomas Hooton, the son of Peter Hooton, the iconic lead singer of the band The Farm. Recently, Thomas was sentenced to a staggering 10 years and 8 months in prison after police caught up with him through incriminating messages related to his father. In an unexpected turn of events, an associate in the drug scene sent a photo of Peter and made remarks that confirmed their relationship, leading investigators straight to Thomas.

The young dealer, who had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply drugs, was operating under the pseudonym "Ownraptor." He quickly made a name for himself as a trusted broker in the murky waters of multi-million-pound drug deals. Imagine that—living in the shadows of your father's fame while leading a double life!

In messages unearthed by the police, Thomas boasted about driving a black Audi A3, mentioning that his "arl fella" (a term for father) had sorted out the insurance. This wannabe kingpin was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court, following his arrest by Merseyside's Organised Crime Partnership back in April this year.

Using the encrypted messaging service EncroChat, Thomas had a hand in dealing substances worth an estimated £1.3 million (€1.49 million). His operations were extensive, spanning Scotland, the northeast, and the south of England, and he was known to use over 40 aliases to keep law enforcement at bay.

A spokesperson for the National Crime Agency revealed the staggering amounts of drugs involved: 42.5kg of cannabis, 3.25kg of heroin, 10kg of cocaine, and 1kg of ketamine. At the time of his arrest, he was sitting on around £400,000 (€458,000) in cash and owed another £258,000 (€295,000). This wasn't a mere side hustle; it was a full-blown organized crime operation that had been thriving for years.

Detective Chief Inspector Lynsay Armbruster stated, "It's clear Hooton was involved in organized crime for a long time before he was charged. His criminal reach extended across the UK, and he worked with high-level criminals to sustain his drug supply operations." Talk about taking after your parents!

Interestingly, EncroChat, the very service that facilitated Thomas's illicit dealings, was deactivated in 2020 following a European investigation. The Mirror has reached out to Peter Hooton for a comment, but the question remains: how will this family navigate the shadows cast by these revelations?