A FORMER deputy director of children's social care at Bradford Council who offered to supply crystal meth to “sexual acquaintances” has been sentenced.

Irfan Alam, 42, of Seven Trees Avenue in Blackburn, pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A controlled drug – methylamphetamine, known as crystal meth – and of offering to supply a Class A controlled drug.

He was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court today. 

Prosecutor Verity Barnes said Alam was arrested at his home on October 23, 2021, on unrelated matters, and his home was searched.

Police officers seized drugs including amphetamines, said to be 3.77g, valued at £401, and 241 microgrammes in separate quantities.

Miss Barnes said Alam’s mobile phone was examined and messages were located that demonstrated that he was offering to supply drugs on a social basis to “sexual acquaintances”.

When interviewed Alam accepted using amphetamines but denied supplying the drug. 

Miss Barnes told the court that there was no evidence that any supply took place.

In mitigation, Mike Walsh said Alam had experienced “enormously far-reaching effects” as a result of being arrested.

He said Alam’s professional life and personal situation had deteriorated to the extent that he was estranged from his wife, although still living in the same home, and relations with his children had become “strained”.

Mr Walsh told the court: “As a result of that arrest he has been suspended from the role and profession that he has worked in for some time.

“That suspension has lasted for the course of the proceedings and will last for some time onwards.”

He added that there was no evidence that Alam “was involved in drug-dealing per se”.

“This is a situation that Mr Alam has become involved in through no fault of anybody else’s, but that does not mean that the effect on him has not been far-reaching," he said.

Recorder Patrick Palmer imposed a 10-month prison sentence suspended for two years, as well as 200 hours unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

A spokesperson for Bradford Council said: “The council was shocked when this case came to light and we acted promptly, supporting the police with their investigation.

"We cannot talk about individual former employees but we can confirm that thorough background checks were carried out when this individual was appointed and no convictions or concerns arose from those checks.”

Bradford’s Children’s Services was removed from the council's control in 2022 and since April 2023, has been run by the arm’s length Bradford Children and Families Trust due to a failure to improve at a fast enough pace.

- An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Alam is aged 32. He is in fact 42. We are happy to clarify this detail.