Rochdale Observer

Found with almost 600 drug wraps

- Rochdaleob­server@menmedia.co.uk @RochdaleNe­ws

APROLIFIC drug dealer was found with almost 600 wraps of heroin and cocaine in a stolen car after leading police on a 110mph pursuit through residentia­l streets.

Shabaz Ali, 28, was pursued by officers after they spotted him driving with false registrati­on plates on his vehicle in Rochdale.

He reached speeds of up to 110mph and drove the wrong way up residentia­l streets, a court heard.

He then crashed into a minibus on Longfield Road and tried to run away from officers before being detained.

Police found 171 wraps of diamorphin­e - more commonly known as heroin - and 423 wraps of cocaine in his possession, as well as £550 in cash and a burner phone.

In street value, the drugs would have been worth a total of around £6,000 to £8,000, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Now, Ali has been put behind bars after a judge told said his offending was ‘depressing­ly familiar’ in Greater Manchester.

Prosecutin­g, Lisa Boocock told the court how officers first pursued the defendant’s vehicle after it was spotted being driven on false plates.

Ali then led police onto residentia­l streets, driving at speeds of up to 110mph.

At one point in the chase, he drove on the wrong side of the road narrowly missing a van.

“He then entered Longfield Road driving at 80mph then collided with a stationary minibus”, Ms Boocock said.

“He ran off but was detained by police shortly after. Two phones including a burner phone and £550 were found.

“His vehicle had been taken in a house burglary the previous month. The defendant also had a key to a Volkswagen Polo vehicle which was taken in a burglary and was on false plates.

“There were also 171 wraps of heroin and 423 wraps of cocaine found in his possession.”

Defending, Benjamin Knight said his client who has several previous conviction­s for drug dealing - is a drug user who is in debts that ‘never really diminish’.

“This is depressing­ly familiar in Greater Manchester. He is part of a chain with people above him”, Mr Knight said.

“The driving aspect is again familiar, a man who panics when he realises he is going to get stopped.

“This defendant has been in and out of custody for most of his adult life.

“He has been offered help to treat his anxiety and depression in custody but has not accepted that help.

“He has indicated that he is happy to now be drug free since his remand.”

Ali, of Darlington Road, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to two offences of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply, two offences of handling a stolen vehicle, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualifi­ed and driving without insurance.

Sentencing, Judge Angela Nield told him: “You are still a young man and yet unfortunat­ely your criminal offending is so concentrat­ed in respect of drug offences and in particular, the supply of class A drugs to others.

“The background to your offending is depressing­ly familiar. You are part of a much larger chain with several layers of that chain above you.

“It’s a source of great frustratio­n and sadness that we rarely see those who are at the top of the chain but regularly we see those such as yourself who have been recruited by various means to sell drugs on the streets.

“The court has no option in terms of the length of the sentence. If there is to be any rehabilita­tion in your future, it lies with you now.”

Ali was jailed for five years and seven months.

He was also banned from driving for three years.

“If there is to be rehabilita­tion in your future, it lies with you now.” – Judge Angela Nield

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 ??  ?? ●●Shabaz Ali was jailed for five years and seven months
●●Shabaz Ali was jailed for five years and seven months
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