A DRUG dealer found with nearly £3,000 worth of cannabis in his boot when he was stopped by police in Powys has been handed a suspended jail sentence.
Mohammad Shahekh Rahman, who has ties to the Powys area, having previously lived in Llanidloes, also had a large amount of cash on him, as well as a set of weighing scales, when he was pulled over by police on the Newtown bypass in October 2020.
Text messages analysed on his phone linked him to the supply of cannabis in the Powys and Birmingham areas – and even uncovered that the 27-year-old had a menu he offered to customers relating to different strains of the Class B drug to buy.
Rahman had been banned from driving at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court last May for three years following a drug driving conviction relating to the 2020 stop, which occurred on October 21.
He appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday (December 8), having previously admitted two charges – possession of cannabis with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of cannabis relating to the stop.
Rahman, of Field Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, had previously lived at Great Oak Street, in Llanidloes, but had moved back to the Walsall area due to the loss of his job following his arrest, the court was told.
David Mainstone, prosecuting, told the court Rahman was stopped by police driving a Citroen DS3 on the Newtown bypass.
“Officers informed him they were looking for drugs and he said he had cannabis that was for his own personal use in his boot,” said Mr Mainstone.
“He handed police a plastic tub, containing two pouches of cannabis, weighing 44 grams and 2.5 grams; these had a total value of £300.
“They searched the vehicle and found in the driver’s door pocket a silver tin containing 3g of cannabis, worth £30, and a small bag of cannabis resin, containing around 2.6g and worth £10.
“In the boot there was a glass jar containing a very small amount worth about £5. But in a rucksack they found a very significant amount of cannabis, nine one-ounce bags, containing around 200g of cannabis, which had a street value of roughly £2,582.
“There was also a set of scales and a mobile phone box containing £600 cash. He was arrested and his phone was seized. There was an overall amount of 282g of cannabis seized, which was worth £2,915.”
Mr Mainstone said mobile phone messages analysed linked Rahman to the supply of cannabis.
“The messages contained him trying to source bulk quantities and he was asked to provide a bank account through which money could be laundered,” he added.
“He was replying to messages from customers regarding prices and the defendant arranged to meet customers, offering a willingness to defer payment; it was clear he was dealing.
“He asked one customer if he’d seen a menu of what he wanted to buy, and the customer said he wanted ‘lemon’, a strain of cannabis.
“There was also £5,500 of unexplained cash deposits going through his account.
“He gave a no comment interview initially, then said the drugs were all his own and he’d bought in bulk to reduce the price.
“He said the cash in his account was for farming work he’d done.”
Mr Mainstone said Rahman had “limited” previous convictions, both of which related to drug driving in 2016 and 2021.
Stephen Sweeney, representing Rahman, said his client had become a drug dealer through his own personal use of the drug.
“He grew it to sustain his own habit,” said Mr Sweeney.
“He was dealing to a limited number of people, including his cousins. He had lost his employment and split up with his then girlfriend, while he was also suffering with the Covid pandemic.
“He lost his place at university and he attributes some of that to drug use.
“He has been offered a job doing night shift work for Asda. He knows what he did was utterly stupid, and he has brought shame to the family, especially in Wales, where his father is a successful businessman.”
His Honour Judge Timothy Petts told Rahman: “It has to be a prison sentence but it can be suspended.”
He handed down custodial terms of nine months for each offence. These will be served concurrently and will be suspended for 18 months.
In addition, Rahman must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and will be subject to trail monitoring for six months. He must also complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Judge Petts ordered the forfeiture of all the cash and the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and associated paraphernalia.
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