A gun-running club girl, a demon ex and a vile paedophile: The offenders spending their summer behind bars

From a ‘demonic’ killer who stabbed his former partner to death to a family man who was unmasked as a big-time drug lord in Manchester's criminal underworld - these are some of the criminals locked up in Greater Manchester in June.

The region's courts have given out hefty prison sentences for all manner of crimes last month, with M.E.N. reporters there to cover the most serious. An open, transparent criminal justice system is an important part of how our democracy works - so we make no apologies for devoting so much time to letting you know what happens in our courts.

A 'family man' was unmasked as a drugs boss after he sent pictures of £100,000 in cash and huge blocks of cocaine. Dad-of-two Darren Midgley has been jailed for 15 years after being revealed as a drugs 'wholesaler' within the criminal underworld.

Known as 'BigLobos' on the secretive EncroChat platform, Midgley was part of a criminal network profiting from cocaine. His home had undergone extensive renovations and he had three expensive watches.

Midgley was linked to at least 11-and-a-half kilos of the class A drug. He used EncroChat to chat with associates and arrange drug deals. In one exchange, he sent a contact images of kilo blocks of cocaine and said: "Better than I thought bro." Midgley also sent an EncroChat user a picture of £100,000 in cash prior to a drugs deal.

Midgley, of Dinsdale Close, Miles Platting, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine. He will serve half of his sentence in prison.

A 'demonic' killer who savagely stabbed his former partner to death will serve a life sentence in jail. Abid Mahmood killed 36-year-old Tamby Dowling in a 'planned and 'premeditated' attack in her own home.

Mahmood, 35, arrived at her house in Oldha