A drug dealer who was caught with cocaine by police on two occasions had "gone up in the world" in the drugs supply chain. He asked a judge not to send him to prison due to his role as a carer for his girlfriend.
Usman Khan, 25, was first arrested on September 14, 2019, when he was stopped by police in Cardiff Bay while the passenger of a BMW. He ran away from the car but was chased and found hiding in a garden. He was searched and found in possession of four bags containing 1.7g of cocaine, three bags containing 0.86g of cocaine, £1,110 in cash, digital scales and counterfeit currency.
The defendant was interviewed and claimed the drugs were for his own personal use and the money was given to him for his birthday. He claimed he used the digital scales to make sure he "wasn't ripped off". A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Monday heard Khan was released under investigation.
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But on June 1, last year, a search warrant was executed at Khan's home in Atlantic Place, Barry. Among the items seized were an 5.25g of cocaine, an iPhone, £1,400 in cash, and digital scales containing traces of cocaine. The street value of the drugs was worth between £520 and £650, but folic acid was also discovered and was due to be used as a cutting agent. This increased the value of the deals to between £1,600 and £2,000.
Khan later pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs of class A. The court heard he was of previous good character.
In mitigation, solicitor-advocate Derrick Gooden said his client has been working full-time since his arrest and acted as a carer for his partner who has an on-going debilitating illness. But he conceded the defendant's offence crossed the custodial threshold and Khan was resigned to spending his first sentence in prison.
Sentencing, Judge Shomon Khan said: "From your phone, it's quite clear to me you were not only street dealing but you had gone up in the world in terms of your role. You were beginning to work your way up in the supply chain and you were starting to work your way up to a wholesale basis.... You must have known through the risk of drug dealing this day would come. " Khan was sentenced to a total of three years and six months imprisonment.
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