Father claimed he was Drug Dealing to Pay for Seized Drugs

Shamus Hussain Shah, aged 25, of Blackburn, was jailed for six and a half years for drug dealing.

He claimed he was committing the offence to pay for the heroin and cocaine police seized from him months earlier.

Preston Crown Court heard that Shah was arrested in Wellington Road, Blackburn, at 11:30 pm on July 5, 2019, after a car chase resulted in him speeding through a red light.

Hanifa Patel, prosecuting, explained that Shah and his Toyota Yaris were searched by police.

Officers found cocaine with a street value of £2,080, heroin with a street value of £400 and £785 in cash. Two mobile phones were also seized as they had been used for drug dealing.

Following his arrest, Shah was interviewed during which, he answered no comment to questions. He was released under investigation.

Ms Patel went on to say that on November 6, 2019, at 3 pm, police pulled alongside a blue Rover that was suspected of being used by drug dealers in Blackburn.

It was heard that Shah was in the driver’s seat and panicked. He put the car in gear and drove off.

When the vehicle became trapped he abandoned it and fled on foot.

Ms Patel explained that during the foot chase with officers, Shah was seen throwing mobile phones into hedges. He was also spotted discarding bags of cocaine.

At a hearing, Shah pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, possession of criminal property, dangerous driving, careless driving and driving without a licence or insurance.

Bob Sastry, defending, stated that his client had some difficulties as a youngster growing up in Blackburn, which brought him to the attention of the courts.

Shah moved to Bolton for a fresh start, however, he ended up getting involved in dealing cannabis and subsequently received a prison sentence.

When he was released from prison, Shah returned to Blackburn and ended up dealing class A drugs.

Police arrested him and seized the cocaine and heroin he was in possession of.

Shah claimed that the people who the drugs belonged to threatened him and his heavily pregnant girlfriend.

He and his partner were threatened unless he recovered their losses by continuing to deal with drugs.

At Preston Crown Court, Judge Mark Brown, the Recorder of Preston, sentenced Shah to six and a half years in prison.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported that Shah was also disqualified from driving for five years.