Etruria drug addict sold cannabis to pay off cocaine debt  

Imthiaz Ghulan has been spared jail after being found with drugs and cash worth £2,247.

CANNABIS dealer Imthiaz Ghulan has been spared jail after being found with drugs and cash worth £2,247.

The 22-year-old was arrested after police were called to a late-night disturbance in Upper Belgrave Road, Normacot, and found a Vauxhall Corsa with three men standing outside.

Officers searched the car and found 113.4 grams of cannabis in 23 bags stashed in the centre console, footwell and door panel.

They also found 20.43 grams of cocaine and recovered a tyre iron from inside the car.

All three men were arrested at 11.10pm.

Ghulan, who also had some cannabis on his person as well as £945 cash, immediately said that the car and the drugs were his.

At the police station, he said the car belonged to his uncle but he had been driving it.

He said the cocaine was for his own use as he was a heavy user of the class A drug.

He said he was in debt to a drug dealer because of his habit and he had the cannabis to sell. The cash was the proceeds of him selling cannabis.

The defendant accepted the tyre iron was in the car for his protection.

Ghulan, of Ladysmith Road, Etruria, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply; possession of cocaine; and possession of an offensive weapon on April 3. He also admitted driving without insurance.

Jason Holt, mitigating, said Ghulan had no previous convictions and the offence was almost 12 months ago.

Mr Holt said: "He was quite heavily addicted to cocaine and he had a significant debt. Pressure was put on him to pay that debt. He was sent to Pakistan by his family to try to get away from the people who had caused the problems for him.

"He was an outcast from his family. He has since turned his life around."

Mr Holt urged Recorder Martin Wasik to give Ghulan a chance and suspend the sentence.

The judge sentenced Ghulan to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, with supervision and 150 hours' unpaid work.

Recorder Wasik found Ghulan benefited from his criminality by £2,247 and ordered him to repay the available amount of £945 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk 11/03/2014