By Lee Grimsditch,Wesley Holmes

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Christina Rowlands, a trusted “lieutenant” of a major organised crime gang operating out of Liverpool, moaned “my life’s over” on TikTok after she was caught. She sent a series of messages on the social media platform, saying “I’ve been nicked me, heaviest s*** ever” and “it’s just so so bad” after being exposed as a key players in a three-year class A drugs plot. The 41 year old said: “I’m going to get about eight years”. However, she received an even harsher sentence after appearing at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, September 11. Rowlands was the trusted “lieutenant” of drug lord Terence Clarke, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2023. Also under Clarke’s command were Aaron Denham, 31, and Robert Seville, 28. They were apprehended during a police investigation into Clarke , who managed county lines supply chains across England and Wales using the Encrochat handle “SacredTruck”. Despite the encrypted network being compromised by law enforcement in 2020, Clarke continued his drug dealings until his arrest in February 2023. Sign up to the MEN Court newsletter here Prosecutor Cheryl Mottram revealed that Rowlands featured in Encrochat messages sent by Terence Clarke as “the bird who helps us now”, as he instructed contacts to deliver large quantities of drugs to her address, reports the Liverpool Echo . Ms Mottram said: “Christina Rowlands was very close to Terence Clarke, trusted by him, rightly so as she remained loyal throughout, right up until her ultimate arrest and remand into custody. “Robert Seville also worked closely alongside him, running his own graft line, the Jonny graft line. Like Terence Clarke, Robert Seville has been involved in the supply of controlled drugs for a number of years. “Even after Terence Clarke’s arrest at the beginning of February 2023, he continued to direct operations whilst on remand.” Both Clarke and Seville were observed regularly being driven around by Rowlands, with Seville spotted going into known “safehouses” on Abbingdon Grove and Dalemeadow Road. The addresses belonged to Rowlands and another accomplice, Nicola Blood. On January 18 2023, police swooped on Blood’s home, recovering 458g of heroin, 1.21g of crack cocaine, 2.07g cocaine and 495g of ketamine. Also seized was a phone connected to Seville’s Jonny graft line, which supplied heroin and crack cocaine to the Newton-Le-Willows area. The following day police raided the address of Terence Clarke’s former partner, Ashley Stephens, recovering 3.4kg of heroin. Rowlands was arrested on January 20, 2023, and released under investigation. Towards the end of the month, she sent a series of TikTok chat messages, including “I’ve been nicked me, heaviest s*** ever”, “in the Echo and all that” and “My life’s over… by the time you get out I’ll probably be in jail anyway”. Further messages read: “It’s just so so bad… Conspiracy to supply class A and money laundering. I’m going to get about 8 years” and “(I) am a big girl, I knew what I was doing, just have to get on with it don’t I?” Later she said: “I’m going to jail… money laundering… 125 grand.” Despite this she continued to operate under Clarke’s commands even while he was remanded at HMP Altcourse. She also laundered £84,000 of dirty cash through her bank account between January 2020 and June 2023. Join our Court and Crime WhatsApp group HERE Ms Mottram said: “As well as allowing her premises to be used for storing and bagging drugs, being involved in transporting Terence Clarke and others, and moving and collecting drugs, Christina Rowlands was also trusted to collect and bank cash and other collect and store other items (such as expensive watches) on Terence Clarke’s behalf.” Denham, who was “a trusted associate of Clarke”, was observed making regular visits to a safehouse in Childwall, owned by Carmina Clynch. He was arrested alongside Clarke at another safehouse in Toxteth, where police seized 1928g of cannabis and £60,000 cash. Andrew McInnes, defending Rowlands, said turned to drug dealing after losing her job in 2020. He said: “She had loss of employment, loss of her property, use of cannabis and latterly class A drugs. Perhaps she was an ideal person for be recruited into the group. She had accommodation used for drugs, access to vehicles, bank accounts were used. “She doesn’t seek to excuse her behaviour at all. In her own words, ‘I’m a big girl, I knew what I was doing’. She has paid a high price because of it.” Stuart Nolan, defending Seville said: “There’s no evidence of an extravagant lifestyle, there’s no evidence of bank accounts of significant financial gain. What he was doing was providing drugs at a street level, rather than a management role.” Robert Wyn Jones, defending Denham, said the 31-year-old was the first to admit his guilt in December 2023. He said: “He has written an eloquent letter in which he doesn’t seek to justify anything and apologises.” Adding: “At the time he was in various debts and saw this as an easy way out. He bitterly regrets it.” Christina Rowlands, of Alexandra Close, Kensington, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, conspiracy to supply class B and money laundering. She was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison. Robert Seville, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was sentenced to eight years, eight months in prison Aaron Denham, of Thornycroft Road, Wavertree, Liverpool pleaded guilty conspiracy to supply class A drugs, conspiracy to supply class B. He was sentenced to six years in prison