Suspended sentence for dealing cannabis

A 26-year-old man received a suspended prison sentence after police officers caught him dealing in cannabis.

Atif Mantaz and another man were challenged by officers after reports of suspicious activity around a Honda Civic car in the Hyde Park Road area of Halifax.

Prosecutor Bronia Hartley told Bradford Crown Court that Mantaz, who was in the driver’s seat, handed over three small bags of cannabis, saying that was all they had.

But a further search of the vehicle revealed dozens of other bags containing skunk cannabis with a street value of around £520.

The court heard that Mantaz, who had no previous convictions, tried to run off, but was detained after a chase.

Officers also seized a Samsung mobile phone, which contained drugs-related text messages, weighing scales and £ 60 in cash. Mantaz, of Queen’s Road, Halifax, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply and Recorder Peter Babb sentenced him to six weeks in prison, suspended for two years.

The judge told Mantaz he would also have to do 150 hours of unpaid work for the community and take part in a 30-day activity programme.

Under the terms of an agreed Proceeds of Crime Act order, Mantaz will also have to pay back a total of £245 or face a further 21 days in prison.

Lawyer Nigel Jameson, for Mantaz, described him as relatively naive and unsophisticated and he submitted that his client had been under some pressure because of his own cannabis debt. Recorder Babb said cannabis was an insidious drug that took hold of its users and led to all manner of criminal activity.