Drug dealer is given 13-month jail term

A dealer from the Black Country has been jailed for 13 months after he was twice caught carrying illegal drugs around in cars.

Darlaston man Shafiq Karim, aged 27, admitted possessing cannabis worth more than £1,400 with intent to supply. Karim, of Willenhall Road, also admitted possessing cocaine and cannabis.

He shook his head as he was sent to prison at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Amjad Nawaz told him: "These are serious offences. You knew those drugs were destined to be sold to others on the street."

Earlier, prosecutor Miss Helena Miller had told the court how Karim was caught with cannabis after being stopped in a Ford Mondeo near his home in May.

She said: "Officers smelled cannabis and the defendant handed over seven bags and a small wrap of white powder from under the passenger visor."

Miss Miller said Karim had been bailed to return to the police station in June for that offence but had failed to do so, leading officers to pull him over again, this time in a Renault Clio.

She said: "Again there was a smell of cannabis in the vehicle and police found 15 bags with a street value of £72 in a McDonald's cup.

"They also found two sets of car keys for vehicles parked nearby. In those vehicles were more than 70 bags of cannabis weighing a total of 257g and with a street value of £1,467."

The court heard police also found bags of cannabis in Karim's house, which he told officers he allowed another dealer to use to prepare drugs.

He told officers the drugs in his possession were largely for his own use but admitted sometimes supplying cannabis to family and friends.

Defending, Mr John Evans said: "He was a heavy user of cannabis and had an association with a drug dealer. He became bound up in the cannabis world.

"His record until the end of last year did not involve drugs and it is hoped he will be able to avoid repetition in the future."