A CONVICTED drug dealer who concocted a “fairytale” defence after he was caught red-handed peddling heroin and crack cocaine has been jailed for almost five years.

Mohammed Amber, who was on prison licence at the time for a six-year sentence for firearms offences, had the drugs stash on him when he was apprehended on June 12, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Amber, 31, whose address was given at HMP Leeds, pretended to have found the 14 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine when he was arrested from a car stopped by the police on Wilsden Road, Wilsden.

Jailing him for four years and 11 months, Judge Jonathan Rose labelled the basis of plea he was sticking to until last week “a fairytale and utter nonsense.”

A phone seized when Amber was arrested had evidence on it that showed he had been trafficking Class A drugs for six months, prosecutor Carmel Pearson told the court yesterday.

Amber pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin and possession of eight cannabis cigarettes found on him at the police station.

Miss Pearson said he had four previous convictions for 21 offences, including Class A drug dealing, dangerous driving and the firearms offences.

Amber’s drug stash and £55 cash found on him were confiscated by the court.

The haul included 10 wraps of heroin worth £56, of 62% purity, and four wraps of crack cocaine worth £24, of 94% purity.

Messages on Amber’s phone were from customers ordering the drugs, dating back to December last year.

Waheed Baber conceded in mitigation that Amber had “a chequered history” and had pleaded guilty late in the day.

Mr Baber said he knew he was going to prison, it was just a question of for how long.

Amber’s last drugs conviction was in 2009 but he became embroiled in that world again to fund his cannabis habit. He was a street dealer, low down in the trafficking hierarchy, it was alleged.

He had been in custody for six months and had done remarkably well, keeping clear of both Class A drugs and cannabis, Mr Baber said.

He urged Judge Rose to “temper justice with mercy and keep the sentence as short as possible.”

Amber had been very supportive of his partner, and he suffered with anxiety and depression.

But Judge Rose said Amber was an experienced drug dealer who knew exactly what he was doing when he went out peddling heroin and crack cocaine on the streets for reward, whether money or drugs.

He was on licence at the time and had lied to the police about his involvement in the offences.