Jail reprieve for drug dealing duo
TWO fathers convicted of possessing and supplying drugs avoided prison sentences on Monday after an Oxford Crown Court judge listened to appeals from their friends and family.
Tahir Abbas Ali, 36, of Mold Crescent, Banbury and Abdul Malik Hanif, 31, of Bretch Hill, Banbury were both handed two-year suspended jail sentences and each ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work by Judge Christopher Compston in relation to one count of possession with intent to supply 27 wraps (12.2 grammes) of heroin.
Mr Compston told both men they should thank their families and their community for “numerous letters of support” testifying to their good characters.
Graham Smith, prosecuting, told the court how police officers had discovered the activities of the two men after placing a Tom Tom satellite navigation system in a car in an area of Banbury where drug dealers were known to be operating. They later visited father-of-three Ali’s house on November 22 last year and discovered the Tom Tom, which Ali claimed he had got from Hanif.
Police then searched Ali and found he had 27 wraps of Diamorphine between his buttocks.
They then went to Hanif’s address and he admitted being in possession of the Tom Tom, which he said he had got during a drugs’ exchange.
Both defendants were said to be supplying the wraps of heroin on November 22 and Hanif was said to be supplying drugs from May-December last year.
Both men had previous convictions for possessing drugs.
Defending Ali, Lucy Tapper said: “There are 46 character reference letters for Mr Ali and his ability to draw on such a wide base of support from friends and family can only benefit him.”
Defending Hanif, Nicholas Worsley said his client had “relapsed” into drug use after returning from a drug rehabilitation clinic in Kashmir.
He had fallen into debt because of his drug use and “agreed to man a telephone” for his dealer Ali to pay off his drug debt.
After sentencing, Mr Compston warned both men: “If I have been conned by your admirable mitigations the next judge will make sure you go down for years and years.”
Hanif had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of possession and supply of drugs and one count of possessing stolen property, whilst Ali had pleaded not guilty to three out of four counts of possession and supply but was found guilty of one count after a trial.
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Wednesday 22 May 2013
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