A man accused of working for the “ring and bring” Sully Line in Bradford told the jury he had no idea the friend he was arrested with was a drug dealer.

Luqman Nazir said he was a family man who would have nothing to do with trafficking in cocaine and heroin.

Nazir, 28, of Farcliffe Place, Heaton, Bradford, denies two allegations of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

The prosecution alleges he was involved with the Sully Line that operated in central Bradford, taking up to 700 orders a day and with a turnover of up to £10 million in just over a year.

Nazir’s co-accused, Mujahid Mahmood, 28, of Hollins Street, Manningham, Bradford, denies conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

The jury at Bradford Crown Court has heard that three men played a leading role in the operation, taking it in turns to take orders on the Sully Line to ensure a round-the-clock supply ring. Mohammed Assan, Mohammed Ayaz and Tassawar Aslam have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. They will be sentenced at the end of the trial, along with others who have also admitted their roles in the operation.

Nazir told the court yesterday that he began taking cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin after a fall-out with his family that left him depressed and stressed.

He said he was embarrassed by his drug habit and would smoke them only with Shaan Ali, the friend he bought them from.

Nazir, who is married with a young child, said he was now free from drugs.

He had previously been employed at a car wash and in the family catering business, but his drug habit left him unable to work.

Nazir said that when he was arrested with Ali in a VW Golf in Westgate, Bradford, on April 18 last year, he had no idea his friend had drugs on him.

He said the Golf was a courtesy car lent to him by a garage while his vehicle was being repaired.

Nazir said that arresting officers found no drugs on him.

The jury has heard that the police discovered a block of cocaine hidden on top of the car’s sun visor and drugs on Ali when he was searched.

“I did not know what he had on him. I was so shocked when the police said they had found it (the cocaine) on the sun visor,” Nazir said.

He continued: “If I knew he had anything to do with the supply of drugs, I would not have gone anywhere near him.

“I am a family man with a wife and daughter. I would have given him a punch in the face if I thought he was dealing drugs.”

Nazir accepted that he had previous convictions for battery, public order offences, inflicting grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and possession of an offensive weapon. He told the jury he had always pleaded guilty, even if he knew he could face a prison sentence.

Cross-examined by prosecutor, Rupert Doswell, Nazir repeated that he did not know Ali was a drug dealer. They took drugs together as a social arrangement and they were going to have a meal together when the police stopped them.

The trial continues.