Leeds dealer spared custody after mistaking cocaine for ketamine
Court accepts dealer’s white-powder confusion
A drug dealer has avoided custody after he thought the cocaine he was dealing was ketamine.
The Crown accepted Thasharaf Ali’s story after he was caught selling in Headingley.
As a result, the 39-year-old’s sentenced was reduced and suspended at Leeds Crown Court.
Prosecutor Adam Walker said officers had been patrolling the Headingley area on September 26, 2022 when they became suspicious of Ali’s car.
At first they thought he was a takeaway delivery driver, but as they got closer realised he was selling drugs.
They found more than 17 grammes of ketamine worth £400, six grammes of 78 per cent -pure cocaine worth £450 and cannabis worth £720.
They were all separated into individual deals.
Ali, of Mexborough Drive, Chapeltown, also had £1,115 in cash on him and a phone that had clear messages related to dealing.
However, the messages also showed he was under instruction from another person.
He has two previous convictions for dangerous driving and drug driving.
Ali admitted two counts of dealing in Class B drugs, and one of dealing in Class A. But it was accepted that there had been no reference to cocaine in his dealings.
Mitigating, Shufqat Khan said Ali, like many, had been a drug user who ran up a debt and put to work to help pay it off.
He said he was carer for his elderly mother and his children.
The judge, Recorder Helen Chapman, gave him a 19-month sentence, suspended for two years.
He was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation days.