British 'Pablo Escobar' will face toughest ever restrictions given to convicted criminal when released next month
The National Crime Agency has revealed the severe restrictions set to be imposed on English gangster and drugs trafficker Curtis Warren upon his release next month.
Warren - a.k.a. 'Britain's Pablo Escobar' or 'Liverpool's most infamous gangster' - was sentenced on 3 December, 2009 to 13 years imprisonment after being found guilty of conspiring to smuggle cannabis.
The 59-year-old is anticipated to be released in November, 2022.
However, Warren will be released under strict conditions, which have since been laid out by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
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Just a handful of crimes committed by Warren include the gangster being found in possession of large quantities of drugs - including cannabis, heroin, ecstasy and cocaine - in the Netherlands in 1996.
Police also discovered ammunition, hand grenades, guns, gas canisters and large amounts of cash.
During his time in prison for the offences, he was found guilty of manslaughter after a fight broke out which resulted in the death of another inmate in 1999, and he was also charged with drugs trafficking in 2005.
Soon after his release, Warren was later arrested in Jersey in 2007 for conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the country and sentenced to 13 years in prison.
An additional 10 years was added to his sentence after he refused to cooperate with the Proceeds of Crime Act's £198 million confiscation order.
But now, after several lengthy stints in prison, Warren is expected to be released from HMP Whitemoor in November.
However, for five years after his release he'll have severe restrictions imposed on him as a result of a crime prevention order against Warren sent to the High Court by The Crown Prosecution Service because of his track record - having spent nearly half of his entire life behind bars.
Former director of public prosecutions and current Labour party leader, Keir Starmer, stated: "There are very real grounds to believe that, without this order being made, Curtis Warren would continue to be involved in serious crime."
While Warren will be allowed to return to his home city of Liverpool upon his release - banning him from doing so being seen as 'a possible human rights violation' - the 59-year-old has only been granted the use of a single mobile phone, one number and one Sim card.
He's also been banned from using Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, any cryptocurrency and his internet search history must be recorded.
Warren must also let his phone be checked when requested by the NCA, may only have cash of up to £1,000 on his person and all of his transactions will be monitored.
Warren could also see any property he buys taken away because of his refusal to cooperate in the 'outstanding' £198 million confiscation order.
A source from the NCA told The Times: "If, for example, he purchased a house, that house would be taken away as part of the order."
As a result of Warren having served his full sentence, he won't be on probation upon leaving prison and so won't be monitored by probation services or have a curfew. Instead, for the next five years he'll be under the scrutiny of the NCA's lifetime management team.
Warren will be allowed to apply for a British passport and if he wishes to travel to Scotland, he's required to give the NCA seven days notice.
If he wants to get into a car or van belonging to a friend, he must give a day's notice.
He is allowed to travel abroad, but must give the NCA all details of who he is going with and where.
A spokesperson from the NCA told LADbible: "Action against serious and organised criminals doesn't end with a conviction. Many serious offenders have had lifelong criminal careers and are likely to reoffend. Individuals convicted of serious offences can have additional restrictions imposed upon them enabling us to monitor their activity, manage their behaviour and prevent reoffending.
"These restrictions protect the public but will have little impact upon those who are genuinely reformed."
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Topics: Crime, True Crime, UK News, Drugs
Poppy Bilderbeck