‘Valuable member of society’ turned to drug dealing
HE WAS LURED BY ‘ATTRACTION OF CASH’
A YOUNG Derby volunteer who was described as “a valuable member of society” immersed himself in drug dealing “because of the lure of cash,” a judge said.
Derby Crown Court heard how police found large amounts of cash, up to £15,600 of heroin and crack cocaine, and “expensive footwear” when they searched Husnain Shahbaz’s bedroom. On a phone which was also seized there was found evidence the 21-yearold had been sending “mass marketing” messages on a daily basis to large numbers of users.
Jailing him for 33 months, Judge Jonathan Bennett said: “I come to the conclusion there were people above you as is normally the case.
“But you had a managerial role in this particular operation and it did go on for some considerable period of time. You were directing people and sending out mass marketing messages, and you had in your possession considerable sums of money. Yes, you were under direction, but yours was a leading function. You were not involved through naivety, you were involved, unfortunately, because of the lure of cash. It is very sad you got yourself in this particular situation because of the attraction of the cash.”
Sarah Allen, prosecuting, said the defendant’s brother was arrested as he pulled up outside his address in the city on December 21 last year. She said as a result the property was searched and in the defendant’s bedroom was found a shoe box which contained £1,000 in cash.
The prosecutor said also discovered was 76.63g of crack cocaine and 80.54g of heroin. Miss Allen said the combined value was estimated to be between £4,200 and £15,600.
She said: “Expensive items of footwear were also found in a wardrobe and an iPhone was analysed and on it was evidence mass marketing messages had been sent. Between October 21 and December, they had been sent to between five and 37 contacts on a daily basis and there was evidence the defendant had been directing other drug dealers.
“He was arrested and in interview gave a prepared statement in which he said he had been acting under orders of someone and was in fear of his safety.”
Shahbaz, of Lawrence Street, Pear Tree, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and two counts of supplying class A drugs. He has no previous convictions.
Members of his family were in the public gallery to see him sentenced as he appeared over a video-link from HMP Brinsford.
Harbinder Lally, mitigating, said his client has “always been directed and instructed” by dealers further up the chain.
He said: “He has supplied five character references, including one from a local boxing coach who speaks highly of him. He is described as a good volunteer and a good and valuable member of society.”