A DRUG dealer has been jailed for more than three years for “peddling misery” on the streets of Bradford.

Mohammed Hussain, 23, of Fearnsides Terrace, Listerhills, was told by Recorder Andrew Haslam that his dealing of crack cocaine and heroin could “ruin people’s lives”.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Hussain was caught in possession of the drugs on February 23 this year.

He was a rear seat passenger in an Audi S3 Quattro that was pulled over by police at about 11pm. The car had been reported to officers earlier in the day as being involved in drug dealing.

Prosecutor Joe Culley told the court that Hussain had 44 packages of crack cocaine, weighing a total of 4.09grams and of 88 per cent purity, and 26 packages of heroin, which weighed a total of 3.33grams and was of 64 per cent purity.

The crack cocaine had an estimated street value of £306.75p, while the heroin was valued at £166.50p – a total of £473.25p.

Sentencing Hussain yesterday to three years and four months for possession with intent to supply class A drugs, Recorder Andrew Haslam said: “That is trading in misery, trading crack cocaine and diamorphine to drug addicts on the streets of this city. You know how seriously courts take peddling in any drugs, but particularly peddling in class A drugs like crack cocaine and diamorphine.

“They are the most addictive of drugs and they ruin people’s lives. This court must impose significant sentences on those who deal in them. That much is recognised by you and your counsel.”

Mr Haslam praised Hussain for pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity and the fact that he had not been in trouble since 2010, when he also faced drugs charges.

But he added: “I have to reflect that you have been in trouble for this sort of thing before. And, in the case of the crack cocaine, there was a high purity in those drugs.”

Mr Culley told the court that Hussain had £627 on him at the time of his arrest.

On the excuse Hussain gave to officers about why he had drugs and cash on him, Mr Culley said: “The defendant said he was walking down the road and saw a Golf being chased by police when a black carrier bag was thrown from it.

“He said he grabbed the bag and then accepted a lift. He said he moved the things to his pocket because he was going to put them down the drain.”

Howard Shaw, representing Hussain, said: “His best mitigation is his guilty plea at the very first opportunity, once the court process had started.”

Mr Shaw said Hussain lived at home with his parents and siblings and was unemployed. He had previously had “a number of factory jobs” and had been training to be a mortgage advisor, which did not work out.

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