Have-go-hero catches Leeds street drug dealer as he tried to run away from police

Usaamah Qadir was found in possession of 80 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine after he was arrested during the incident in Rodley, Leeds.

The 20-year-old apprentice engineer was locked up for two and a half years.

Leeds Crown Court heard police officers attempted to stop a Vauxhall Corsa Qadir was travelling in on Bradford Road, Thornbury, on July 14 last year.

Martin Robinshaw, prosecuting, said it was suspected that the vehicle had been involved in an offence of making off without payment at a petrol station two days earlier.

Officers signalled for the vehicle to pulled over but it was driven off at speed.

Police managed to box the vehicle in and force it to a stop in Rodley.

Qadir ran from the car but tripped and was detained by a member of the public.

The defendant was taken to a police station where he admitted to officers that he had drugs hidden beneath his clothing.

He was in possession of 30 small bags of cocaine and 50 small bags of crack cocaine.

Mr Robertshaw said the drugs had an estimated street value of £1,050.

Qadir, of Amberley Street, Bradford, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.

Probation officer Mick Berry said the defendant had said during interview that he got into drug dealing in order to settle a £500 debt he owed after crashing a motorbike.

Mr Berry said Qadir appeared "self centred" and made derogatory remarks about drug users.

Robin Freize, mitigating, said Qadir was immature for his age.

Sentencing Qadir, Judge Simon Batiste said: "Given the amount of drugs in your possession you must have had some awareness of the scale and understanding of the operation.

"Only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.

"The message must go out that people who involve themselves in the dealing of class A drugs will find themselves going to prison."