More than 2,000 nitrous oxide canisters were found
Adnan Mohammed, aged 24, of Leeds, was jailed for 27 months for dealing cannabis and laughing gas to students.
Newcastle Crown Court heard he ran a business selling nitrous oxide and cannabis to students in halls of residences on the outskirts of Newcastle.
He continued to do so despite being arrested and released three times.
Mohammed first came to the police’s attention in March 2018 when he was spotted “doing laps” around student accommodation, with several customers approaching his Toyota Yaris and buying substances.
Upon pulling into BP petrol station at the bottom of Shields Road, police approached and searched the vehicle.
More than 2,000 nitrous oxide canisters were found in the boot. They also noticed a mobile phone that was constantly ringing and receiving lots of texts.
Around £475 in cash and 14 bags of cannabis were also found.
Mohammed claimed the drugs were for his own use and said it was not his car.
He refused to provide police with the pin for his phone but they could see texts on the lock screen indicating dealing.
Mohammed was released under investigation but a few days later, he was spotted in Shieldfield in the Yaris.
Police searched his car and 1,080 canisters of nitrous oxide were seized, along with £445.
In relation to the laughing gas, he told police: “They are for whipping desserts.”
Mohammed was released under investigation again. He was caught again in May 2018.
Police saw a “nervous man” in the Melbourne Street area of Newcastle. He was approached by Mohammed in the Yaris.
Officers pulled up alongside them and told him his car would be searched. They discovered another 44 canisters of laughing gas.
In June 2018, police went to a house where the Yaris was parked. They entered through the ajar door to do a welfare check.
They discovered cannabis, over £5,000 in cash, a small amount of cocaine and ketamine, and more than 6,000 nitrous oxide canisters.
The prosecutor, Joe Hedworth, said:
“He continued to supply nitrous oxide despite being arrested and released under investigation three times.
“He targeted impressionable, vulnerable young people.”
Mohammed pleaded guilty to four offences each of possession with intent to supply nitrous oxide and cannabis and one of possessing cocaine.
He has nine previous convictions, including one for possessing cannabis in August 2019.
Abdul Shakoor, defending, said:
“He has set out his remorse in a letter to the court.
“He has been married since this offence, in 2020 and his wife is due to give birth in two months and he is not going to be present or be able to be part of his child’s life for a significant period of time.
“He is currently providing care for his brother, who was involved in a serious road accident.”
Judge Penny Moreland said: “You were running a busy drugs supply business, you were supplying nitrous oxide, a controlled psychoactive substance, and cannabis.
“Your market was the student market, in particular, you were targeting the Shieldfield area, where there are numerous halls of residence where first-year students live.”
The Chronicle reported that Mohammed was jailed for 27 months.
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