Can you believe that a 30-year-old drug dealer ended up behind bars for a whopping 10 years, all because of his dad’s celebrity status? Thomas Hooton, the son of famous musician Peter Hooton from the band The Farm, found himself in a world of trouble after police tracked him down through his father's fame.

This wild story takes us deep into the tangled web of organized crime, where Thomas was not just a small-time player but a major dealer dealing in cocaine, ketamine, cannabis, and heroin. He was known as 'Ownraptor' and had developed a reputation as a reliable broker in multi-million-pound drug transactions.

Investigators uncovered his identity after intercepting messages that revealed his connection to his famous father. In texts, he casually mentioned driving a black Audi A3, with his 'arl fella', a nod to his dad, taking care of the insurance. What a twist of fate that the son of a beloved musician could be involved in such dark dealings!

On Friday, in Liverpool Crown Court, Thomas was sentenced to 10 years and eight months. This came after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to drug supply. The evidence was overwhelming, with police estimating that he was involved in distributing a staggering £1.3 million worth of drugs!

His operation wasn’t just limited to one area; he had set up a complex network spanning Scotland and various parts of England. The National Crime Agency revealed that Hooton had been linked to 42.5kg of cannabis, 3.25kg of heroin, 10kg of cocaine, and 1kg of ketamine. To put it simply, this wasn’t just a hobby – it was a full-fledged business.

Following his arrest by the Merseyside's Organised Crime Partnership last April, it was clear that Thomas had made some poor choices, not the least of which was thinking he could operate under the radar. Detective Chief Inspector Lynsay Armbruster noted that Hooton had been involved in organized crime for a long time, indicating that this wasn’t just a one-off incident but a pattern of illegal activity.

Interestingly, EncroChat, the messaging service he used to conduct his illegal deals, was shut down in 2020 by law enforcement agencies across Europe, highlighting just how serious the battle against organized crime has become.

As the dust settles on this shocking case, one can’t help but wonder how the son of a famous musician ended up in such a dire situation. Will Peter Hooton have anything to say about his son’s actions? The Mirror has reached out for a comment.

Stay tuned for updates, and let’s hope this serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of falling into the wrong crowd, even when you come from a family in the spotlight.