Leeds drug dealer's 'easy money' plan to clear debt backfired, landing him in jail
A dealer twice caught with stockpiles of drugs has been jailed after he thought it was an easy way to pay off his debts.
Abdul Shafique fled police in his car which was later found to have large quantities of drugs, but he was then caught 18 months later with almost £9,000 worth of illegal substances.
The 28-year-old admitted a raft of offences at Leeds Crown Court, including possession of cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and ketamine, dealing in heroin and cocaine, a further offence of possessing cannabis and possession of criminal property.
Prosecutor Louise Pryke said officers first pulled Shafique over in Leeds on the night of March 14 last year, but he took off when they suggested his car be searched.
He crashed a short time later, hitting a wall and abandoning his car. Bags of MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis were recovered, worth an estimated £900.
But he was not arrested until September 29 this year when officers went to his home on St Wilfrids Grove in Gipton, and noticed a strong smell of cannabis.
He tried to flee again but was quickly detained. On him and in the property they found large amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis and cannabis sweets.
The total value came to £8,840. They also found scales, bags and calling cards bearing his number.
He gave a no-comment interview at the police station.
He appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds where he was being held on remand.
A probation report found he had run up a drug debt so was selling to pay it off.
Mitigating, Richard Holland added: “He openly says to me that he was an idiot and thought it was an easy option to pay off his debt.”
Judge Simon Phillips KC jailed him for 39 months.