Man returned to drug dealing ‘to help family’
A YOUNG man returned to drug dealing after feeling compelled to bring money in for his family, which was being financially squeezed due to the pandemic.
Ahmed Noor, who was already on bail having been arrested months before for drug possession, was spotted by officers at a location “used for the sale of drugs”.
Prosecuting, Harry Baker told Cardiff Crown Court that Noor had first been arrested in May 2019 when he was found in possession of the 1.24 grams of diamorphine, and a “burner” mobile phone which, on analysis, was revealed to have made 80 calls in one day, each of which had lasted for just a few seconds.
A later search of his home revealed £581 in cash.
Eighteen months later officers spotted Noor and challenged him, and recovered a cigarette packet he had dropped to the floor. It was found to contain eight wraps of crack cocaine, of 71% purity, and five wraps of heroin, of 49% purity.
He also had £120 in cash on him. A search of his home revealed a further £415 and another burner-style phone.
The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply, and two of possession.
Mitigating, Abigail Jackson told the court Noor had had the first offence hanging over him for 17 months while he waited to find out if he was going to be charged.
She added: “Mr Noor has taken steps to better his life. He found employment – but unfortunately he was furloughed due to the pandemic.
“His father is a taxi driver and his income has been significantly impacted, and sadly his uncle became ill with cancer last year, and this young man felt significant pressure to earn some income to support his family.
“He accepts what he did was wrong. It was a foolish decision to go back to selling drugs, but it does provide some context of this young man’s mindset at the time the second offence was committed.
“He is a well-liked member of the local community with promising football talent.
“December last year was his first time in custody and he says he now wants to look to the future with time in custody.
“Due to pandemic restrictions, education opportunities are limited, but when they are lifted he wants to look into courses such as construction, or electricity or plumbing, in order to gain employment and make money by legitimate means.”
The defence counsel added that Noor, of Worcester Close in Grangetown, had been provided with drugs to sell by a group of older men, who had also provided him with food.
“He thought it was a gesture of goodwill, but then they expected money back and put pressure on him to sell drugs.
“He accepts he was naive and should have realised that nothing comes for free.
“The older men told him where to sell drugs and would provide him with them, and he would return with the money he had recovered.”
Sentencing, David Morgan told the Noor: “In May 2019 you were just 18 years old and you committed a very serious offence, possession with intent to supply heroin.
“I am quite satisfied you were taken advantage of by people of a more criminal nature than you at that time.
“If you had remained out of trouble and behaved yourself, you would have had a chance of avoiding a custodial sentence.
“The financial pressure of the pandemic led you to make decisions that were foolish and I am sure with the benefit of hindsight you acknowledge that.
“At the time you were on bail and you went back to selling drugs on the street. That means the court can do nothing but impose a custodial sentence.
“You have no previous convictions and the references to your character put forward by people who know you say what you have done is wholly out of character”.
Noor was sentenced to three years for possession with intent to supply, and two years for possession, to run concurrently, making a total of three years; he was told he would serve half of that in custody.