A BRADFORD drug dealer caught with hundreds of pounds worth of cannabis in his car initially told police that it was for his personal use.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Aleem Hussain, now 22, was seen parked up alone on Scotchman Road, near Toller Lane, at around 11pm on March 20, 2022.

Prosecutor Fen Greatley-Hirsch told the court that officers noticed he smelt strongly of cannabis.

A search of his car revealed remnants of the drug, which Hussain said was present as a result of being used by himself. 

However, he soon confessed that there was more cannabis in the boot, and a search revealed several plastic bags containing the drug as well as a man bag containing £175 in cash.

Hussain, of Westfield Road, Bradford, was arrested and cautioned at the scene where he admitted the drugs were his.

He denied supply but admitted possession, claiming the drugs were for personal use only.

He gave a “no comment” interview and provided a pin for his mobile phone, which did not provide access.

When a further pin was provided it allowed access to the phone, which was analysed and found to contain messages that were indicative of supplying drugs.

The cannabis in Hussain’s car, which was seized, was found to have a street value of more than £480.

Hussain later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a class B drug, namely cannabis.

The court heard that Hussain had recently served a jail term for harassment but since completing that sentence he had made progress in staying away from cannabis and found a job.

The judge Mr Recorder James Hill KC told Hussain: “Street dealing and having the level of cannabis that you had in your car at the time of your arrest is a serious offence.

“It affects a lot of people in the community.

“It’s also a gateway drug and very often people that start with cannabis move onto more serious drugs.”

However, he said he was drawing back from imposing a jail term for drug-dealing “by way of additional encouragement” and instead handed down a 12-month community order plus 250 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Hussain was also ordered to contribute £250 towards prosecution costs at £20 a month.

The judge ordered the seized drugs to be destroyed, and the cash to be confiscated under the Misuse of Drugs Act.