Youth worker dealt cocaine to ‘friends’

AN Oldham youth worker who became addicted to Class A drugs has been jailed for 18 months for supplying cocaine to friends.

Abrar Ahmed, of Worcester Street, Oldham, admitted possession with intent to supply when he appeared before Derby Crown Court on March 9 — the day he was due to stand trial for the charge.

The 24-year-old university graduate, who was back before the court for sentencing yesterday, was stopped by police in the A57 near Glossop, Derbyshire, last June.

Officers found a silver tin containing cocaine with a street value of around £100 in the vehicle, and around £2,000 in cash about Ahmed’s person, the court was told.

Ahmed admitted that the tin contained cocaine but said that it was for personal use, the court heard.

“He has now reduced his cocaine use from around £145 per week to £70 but he is still fighting the addiction.

“What is of even more concern is that he also spent a year studying the effects of drug abuse while studying for his course at Lancaster University to train to be a youth worker,” said Abigail Joyce, prosecuting.

“This was not a commercial supply operation but he was delivering cocaine to his friends, which was funding his own drug use, effectively allowing him to use cocaine for free.”

Sentencing Ahmed to 18 months in prison, Judge Andrew Hamilton said: “Your life has been bowled over by cocaine use and you are still addicted.

“You pleaded guilty to supplying a group of so-called friends with cocaine, but the reality of it is that you were going out of your way to deliver it to them in your car.

“Without people like you, the big-time dealers would not be able to get their drugs onto the streets.”