A BRADFORD drug dealer has been jailed for 32 months after turning up so late to court that an arrest warrant was issued for him.

Judge David Hatton QC was less than impressed with Manwar Khan’s explanation for not getting to Bradford Crown Court anywhere near on time.

“I just woke up a bit late,” the defendant told him from the dock.

The court heard that Khan, 48, and co-accused Faheem Akhtar, 18, were caught red-handed drug dealing in Braybrook Court, Manningham, Bradford, at 7.50pm on July 7 last year.

Khan, who was living in a bedsit in Braybrook Court, was the driver of a Honda Civic with Akhtar, of Talbot Street, Listerhills, Bradford, in a back seat.

Prosecutor Joe Culley said Akhtar, who was 17 at the time, had a bag with him containing seven wraps of heroin, of 52 per cent purity, and 28 wraps of crack cocaine, of 69 per cent purity, together worth almost £500.

He also had £198 cash on him and a phone detailing his drugs transactions.

He told the police: “It’s the B line,” when he was arrested.

Khan and Akhtar pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

Khan also admitted being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, between June 1 and July 7 last year.

Akhtar was sentenced to 12 months in a young offender institution, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work, a two month electronically monitored curfew and a rehabilitation activity requirement with the probation service.

His barrister, Sophie Drake, said he had no previous convictions.

He was a youth at the time, living in a hostel, and under the bad influence of others.

He was immature and naïve and did not realise the seriousness of the offences.

Akhtar was now back home with his mother and working for a supermarket chain.

Judge Hatton told him: “You did not fully appreciate the seriousness of what you were doing and you were clearly under the influence of other people.”

Mark Brookes, for Khan, said his client was a long-standing heroin addict who was ordered by his drug dealer to drive for him to pay off a debt.

He had 13 previous convictions, mainly for offences of dishonesty, and nothing for drug dealing.

Mr Brookes said Khan was estranged from his family and homeless after he was evicted from his bedsit.

He had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and been frank with the police.

MORE TOP STORIES