Drug deals caught on CCTV

A SERIES of drugs deals involving an Accrington woman were caught on CCTV.

CCTV footage showed Basha Norie, 19, Jija Osman, 20, and Kamila Zieba, 19, involved in the supply of cannabis at about 4pm on June 24, as the coronavirus crisis continued.

A judge said Norie, described as a ‘gifted footballer’ who was once captain of his school team, used his two female co-defendants as ‘cover’ for his dealing.

Manchester Crown Court was told that Norie was the ‘banker’ who held cash, while Osman and Zieba, formerly of Wellington Road, Crumpsall, but now of Accrington, acted as a ‘runner’ and ‘distributor’ respectively.

The three could be seen on CCTV at the benches near the Tampopo restaurant in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens.

Prosecutors said ‘at least’ four deals took place within a half-hour period. Police arrested them soon after when they were alerted by CCTV operators.

Zieba had 30 snap bags of cannabis worth a total of £300, while Norie was found with £135.

Judge Anthony Cross QC said Norie was ‘taking advantage’ of the women to ‘escape responsibility’, but added that they were ‘willing’ participants.

Zieba’s lawyer James Preece said that she was put in the position of ‘maximum risk’ because she was holding the drugs.

For Norie, Ronan Maguire described the defendant as a ‘low level’ drug dealer.

Norie had previously been a talented footballer with a ‘bright future’, who later became homeless and started committing crimes, the court was told. He was jailed for 18 months.

Osman’s lawyer, Estelle Parkhouse, said the defendant is ‘not criminally sophisticated’ and is naive.

The two female defendants both had no previous convictions, and probation officers said they were deemed to pose a low risk of re-offending. They were both spared jail.

Zieba was handed a three-month sentence suspended for 12 months, while Osman received a 12-month community order.

Norie, of no fixed address; Osman, of Puritan Walk, Collyhurst, and Zieba all pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis.