Drug-dealing trio helped cause misery

THREE Oldham men — two of them brothers — who were involved in selling hard drugs on the streets, have been jailed for a total of seven and a half years.

The trio are among the latest to be dealt with by the courts as a result of a covert police operation in which officers in the town centre spent months tracking down and identifying those peddling heroin and cocaine.

Sentencing them at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, judge Jonathan Foster said: “Operation Rescind was instituted because of pressing drug problems in Oldham.

“Unfortunately a number of young men, of mainly good character, were tempted by the easy profits that selling drugs could yield. Their acts brought continued dependency and misery to those who received the drugs.”

Hasan Ullah (22), of Middleton Road, was jailed for 37 months, his younger brother Abdul (19) for 21 months, and 19-year old Mohammed Rahman, of Colwyn Street, for 32 months.

Barrie Darby, prosecuting, said police had posed as potential customers and Hasan Ullah had been spoken to by officers in Winterbottom Street, Oldham, on December 10, when they asked if he knew where they could get “decent gear”.

As a result, nine purchases were made — mainly single wraps of drugs costing around £15 each.

The court was told that police later recovered 55 wraps valued at £1,245 at Ullah’s home.

His brother Abdul accepted being involved in five street deals, having become envious of the money Hasan was making.

Mohammed Rahman was involved in seven street deals and was caught with 39 wraps of cocaine.

Rebecca Tanner, for Hasan Ullah, said her client admitted his motivation had been money, and he had been “monumentally foolish”.

She said he got into difficulties financially when a gambling habit got out of hand and he got into debt.

“He is deeply ashamed of himself, and his family are bitterly disappointed in him” she added.

Shirlie Duckworth, for Abdul Ullah, said the younger brother had hoped to become a successful footballer and he had wanted cash to pay for soccer training.

She said he had been envious of the money that he saw was available in drugs. She said he made just £5 for each of the wraps of drugs he sold on behalf of his brother.

Ben Knight, for Mohammed Rahman, said his client accepted that his motivation had been simple profit, and he recognised he had been very foolish.

Hasan Ullah had pleaded guilty to three offences of supplying cocaine in December, 2010, three of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, one of being concerned in the supply of heroin, and one of possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Abdul Ullah pleaded guilty to six offences of supplying cocaine between December and March.

Mohammed Rahman pleaded guilty to four offences of supplying cocaine, two of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and one of being concerned in the supply of heroin in December.