‘Balaclava-clad thugs forced drugs trade on me, says dealer
A DERBY drug dealer’s plea to be spared jail as he was acting under instruction from people who had beaten him up has fallen on deaf ears.
Mohammed Hussain said a debt to a “ruthless criminal” had been passed on to him and that is why he was selling cocaine and cannabis.
Derby Crown Court heard how up to £3,300 of the substances were found in two cars and at his address in Normanton. But despite his barrister’s efforts, a judge chose instead to put him behind bars.
Jailing the 32-year-old for two years and three months, Recorder Penelope Stanistreet-Keen said:
“It is clear that even under pressure you were part of an operation which was quite a sophisticated set-up.
But I am afraid that even with your personal circumstances and your other mitigation I am not able to suspend it (the sentence).”
David Allan, prosecuting, said police spotted a drug user get into a white Ford Focus, registered to Hussain, in Normanton one day in late March this year. Around a week later the same car was seen on a different street in Derby and the defendant was arrested.
The prosecutor said: “A search discovered a number of exhibits including two one ounce bags of cannabis, two half ounce bags of cannabis and a two gram bag of cocaine capable of producing 20 wraps. There were keys to a second car, a black Hyundai, and in that was more cocaine, including some of high purity, and 29 bags of cannabis.
“The expert’s statement say the total value of all which was seized would have been between £2,300 and £3,300.”
Mr Allan said in his police interview Hussain, of Empress Road, said cash taken from his home was from his business as a car and car parts dealer. The defendant later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply both drugs.
Will Bennett, mitigating, said his client had sold a car to “a ruthless criminal” and the defendant introduced him to one of his friends who ripped off the former. He said: “It got nasty.
“Men in balaclavas knocked on his door, he was taken for a drive and he left the car with a beating. They told him the debt was now his and to pay off the debt he would have to deal drugs for them.
“He was going to the stash cars and taking the money and this went on for about three months until he was arrested.”
Mr Bennett said Hussain lives at home and is the carer for the defendant’s mother who speaks little English and relies on him