A DRUG dealer who was supplying thousands of pounds worth of cocaine and ecstasy and had a weapon at his home is now behind bars.

Shah Haque admitted possession of both class A drugs with intent to supply when he was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Monday. The 23-year-old further admitted possession of criminal property, possession of cannabis and having an offensive weapon (a cannister of CS spray).

Police carried out a raid at Haque’s then address in Tunnel Hill in Worcester at 9.30pm on September 17 last year

Martin Liddiard, prosecuting, said officers found 40g of cocaine worth between £2,000 and £2,500 and 474 ecstasy tablets worth between £2,370 and £4,740. They also found 2.4g of skunk cannabis, a can of CS gas and £1,950 in cash which included £220 of counterfeit currency.

Mr Liddiard said the money was ‘the proceeds of criminal activity, presumably the proceeds of drug dealing.’

Haque, now of Chedworth Drive, Warndon, Worcester, answered no comment to the ‘vast majority’ of questions put to him in police interview.

The defendant has previous convictions including for possession of an offensive weapon from June 2014, possession of MDMA from June 2017 and possession of MDMA and amphetamines from April last year.

He has been subject to community orders but never to a custodial sentence.

Nicholas Berry, defending, said plainly Haque’s previous convictions were an aggravating feature but this was his client’s first trafficking offence.

Haque had a chronic drug habit from the age of 17, he said.

Mr Berry said of the CS spray: “It wasn’t used or brandished. It’s not an item where there’s a risk of death or serious physical or psychological harm.”

The barrister said Haque had been completing courses while in custody and was not using drugs other than medication for anxiety and depression.

Judge Jim Tindal said Haque had been given a community order for possession of heroin on September 3 last year, just days before the drugs were found at his home.

“Although you have never been to prison before some may feel that was fortunate upon your part and, certainly, the fact you committed this offence in breach of a community order means that an immediate custodial sentence is inevitable,” said Judge Tindal.

Haque was jailed for four years, half of which he can expect to serve in custody and half in the community on licence. The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and the confiscation of the criminal cash.