Last week, Jamie Coggins, 28, was sentenced to four years at Liverpool Crown Court for his role in assisting the murder of 19-year-old Nyle Corrigan. Corrigan was fatally shot on Boode Croft in Stockbridge Village, Liverpool, in November 2020.
Coggins had originally been accused of murder but was cleared of the charge, which would have carried a minimum 30-year sentence. Instead, he was convicted of assisting an offender. Coggins appeared in court alongside gunmen Martin Wilson, 37, and Connor Smith, 26, who were sentenced to 32 years each for the murder of Mr. Corrigan.
The ECHO can confirm that Jamie Coggins is the nephew of Vincent Coggins, the notorious leader of the Huyton Firm gang. This gang had a significant influence on the drug trade in Liverpool for over 30 years. While there was no direct connection made between Jamie and his uncle’s crime group during the trial, Coggins’ family ties to the Huyton Firm were notable.
Vincent Coggins led the gang’s operations, which involved smuggling large quantities of cocaine and heroin across the UK. The Huyton Firm used the Port of Liverpool and had supply networks from Plymouth to Scotland, with corrupt dock workers assisting in the distribution. However, the gang’s operation unraveled in early 2020 after the EncroChat network was hacked, leading to numerous arrests.
Despite his family background, there was no indication that Jamie Coggins was involved in the Huyton Firm’s criminal activities. During the trial, he stated he was a cannabis dealer involved in multi-kilo transactions. Coggins testified he had known the murder victim, Nyle Corrigan, for most of his life and considered him a friend.
On the night before Corrigan’s death, Coggins and Smith had lengthy phone calls, but he denied knowing of the events unfolding. Meanwhile, gunmen Wilson and Smith, masked and in hoods, were seeking out Corrigan, eventually fatally shooting him as he arrived on his electric bike.
Following the murder, Coggins helped Smith dispose of his clothing and assisted in moving Smith’s belongings to a safe house overlooking the Mersey. Despite being arrested and released on bail, Coggins continued to aid Smith in evading authorities, including helping him escape to Spain. CCTV footage showed Coggins at Manchester Airport, traveling abroad to visit Smith, who remained in Spain for several years until he deemed it safe to return to the UK.
Coggins’ defense counsel highlighted that since his remand, Coggins had become a father, hoping the responsibility would make him less likely to reoffend.