Here's who has been JAILED this week in Bradford

Joshua Pilcher, 33, of Norwood Road, Shipley, was under pressure to deal Class A drugs after running up a debt to feed his £20 a day heroin addiction, the court heard.

He pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply on September 17 and October 1 and 5.

Joshua Pilcher

Pilcher also admitted possession of heroin with intent to supply on September 17 and October 5, and three offences of possession of criminal property, totalling £1,403.

Prosecutor Graham O’Sullivan said the first set of offences took place at 9.20am when the police saw a drug deal taking place on Coach Road, Baildon. Officers followed Pilcher, who was driving a Toyota Corolla, into Bradford and detained him.

He was in possession of 150 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin and £96 in cash.

Pilcher admitted street dealing to pay off a debt he had run up to feed his £20 a day heroin addiction.

Mr O’Sullivan said that Pilcher was arrested again on October 1 at 8.35pm. This time he was heading for Main Street, Bingley, in a black Volkswagen car when he pulled out in front of police officers, almost colliding with their vehicle.

He had 20 wraps of crack cocaine with him and £507 in cash.

He made no comment in interview but a phone seized from him had evidence of drug dealing on it.

Four days later, Pilcher was caught drug dealing again at 6.54pm on Ferncliffe Road, Bingley, in the same car he was arrested in the last time.

He tried to drive off but dropped 20 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin out of the vehicle window. He also had £797 in cash on him.

This time he was remanded in custody and sentenced on a video link to HMP Leeds.

Pilcher’s solicitor advocate, Nicholas Leadbeater, said he had weaned himself off heroin but became de-pressed during the Covid-19 lockdown and returned to drug abuse.

He was performing a limited function under the direction of others and there was an element of pressure, coercion and intimidation.

Pilcher had no previous convictions and his naivety had been exploited.

Judge Andrew Hatton said he was peddling misery on the streets of West Yorkshire, persisting after twice being released under police investigation.

He conceded that there was an element of pressure and said Pilcher’s previous good character was an important mitigating factor.

Pilcher was jailed for a total of 28 months.

Saif Ahmed

A TRAINEE mechanic was jailed for three years for burgling a house at dead of night and trying to smash his way into another home in broad daylight.

Saif Ahmed was one of a gang that broke into an address in Ashfield Crescent, Bingley, in the early hours of October 23 while a couple and their children were asleep.

Prosecutor Robert Stevenson said that Ahmed, 22, of Midland Road, Manningham, Bradford, was on licence at the time and had been recalled to prison.

The burglars stole a handbag and a black BMW 3 series worth £15,000 from the property.

Five days later, the car was used in an attempted housebreaking at 1.30pm on Thorpe Lane in Guiseley.

The male householder heard a loud bang as the gang tried to smash their way into his home. They carried on attempting to force their way in even after he had banged on the window. One of the males then made a one finger gesture at him.

The rear door lock was snapped and the intruders had then tried to kick their way in.

Three suspects in face coverings were seen outside and it was believed they were after a Mercedes car, Mr Stevenson said.

The males made off in the BMW stolen from the house in Bingley. It was seen on Toller Lane, Bradford, on false plates and pursued by the police across the city at high speed until it went down a steep embankment on to a cycle path.

The car was abandoned with the engine running and a police drone found the suspects hiding in bushes nearby. Discarded balaclavas were also discovered.

Ahmed had six previous convictions for 13 offences, including house burglary. He was on licence from a 22 month jail sentence for handling stolen goods and dangerous driving.

He pleaded guilty to burglary, theft of the BMW and attempted burglary and was sentenced on a video link to Leeds Prison.

Ahmed’s barrister, Andrew Semple, conceded that a custodial sentence was inevitable.

Ahmed had been training as a mechanic when he fell into significant cannabis use and ran up a debt. He was then under pressure to repay his dealer.

He had reflected on his offending while on remand under lockdown and wanted to make a fresh start by taking a bricklaying course.

Mr Semple said Ahmed did not make the one finger gesture to the householder. There was no ransacking of the Bingley house it was “limited intrusion to get the keys.”

Judge Andrew Hatton said both the properties were occupied and one had young children in it. Ahmed was part of a group or gang and the stolen BMW was used in the second offence.

He had a previous conviction for house burglary and was on licence at the time.

Amaad Asif

A TEENAGE drug dealer caught with 72 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine in Bradford city centre was locked up for 27 months.

Amaad Asif was sentenced almost two years after he was arrested aged 18 for peddling drugs in North Parade on the late afternoon of December 5, 2018.

Asif, now 20, of Walmer Villas, Manningham, Bradford, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and possession of criminal property.

Prosecutor Peter Byrne said that he was seen selling drugs to a known addict.

Police officers on duty in the city centre at 5.20pm watched the drug user phoning Asif who turned up to clinch the sale.

He had 40 wraps of crack cocaine of 57 per cent purity and 32 wraps of heroin of 51% purity in his fleece jacket, plus £52 in cash.

A search of his bedroom uncovered a further £2,074 in cash and dealer cards with a name and number on them.

Mr Byrne asked the court to make a confiscation order in the sum of £2,127 and for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.

Asif’s barrister, Shufqat Khan, said he was 18 at the time with no previous convictions and he had stayed out of trouble in the two years since his arrest.

The court was handed a probation report and two references.

Mr Khan said Asif had worked in a call centre but lost his employment and began associating with older men. They allowed him to smoke their cannabis free of charge and then led him into Class A drug dealing.

Asif genuinely regretted what he had done and was very remorseful.

He was the only person in his hardworking and law abiding family to become involved in crime.

Mr Khan said Asif’s father was held in high regard in his business running restaurants and takeaways. His son knew he had brought shame on him and the rest of the family.

He was now living back at home with his parents and he would be found work in the restaurant trade.

Mr Khan said Asif had always intended to plead guilty to the offences but had not been summoned to court by postal requisition until this October.

Judge Andrew Hatton said he and others like him peddled misery on the streets of Bradford.

He sentenced him to 27 months’ detention in a young offender institution.

Brian Wiloughby

A KEIGHLEY man was jailed for 21 years for the rape and indecent assault of a child.

Brian Willoughby, 51, of North Dean Road, was found guilty of five offences including rape and several in-decent assaults of one female victim, between 2000 and 2003.

In 2005, she disclosed that she had been sexually abused as a child and then in 2014, she came forward to speak to the police and report the offences.

Willoughby was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple offences.

He was sentenced to 21 years in prison and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

After the case, Detective Constable Donna Hector, of Bradford Safeguarding Unit, said: “The sentence handed down to Willoughby reflects the horrendous crimes and trauma he inflicted on his victim.

“I would like to praise the incredible courage and bravery of the victim. She is truly remarkable and has not only endured abuse throughout her childhood, but was forced to endure a gruelling court case where she had to give evidence and relive her trauma.

“We have supported her throughout the process and I truly hope she is now able to get some closure from these incidents and move forward.

“I would encourage anyone who has suffered any sort of abuse to come forward and speak to the police. You will be listened to and be given the help and support you need. We have specially trained officers who will work tirelessly to bring any perpetrators to justice.”