'The message is not getting out on street dealing' judge says as he jails four for county drug run

Reece Allamby, Jamal Anderson, Taylor Leachman and Raheem Qureshi's joint trial was stopped in May, on its second day, when the four pleaded to guilty to possession with intent to supply three grams of heroin and one gram of cocaine, leading to their sentencing at Worcester Crown Court yesterday.

Sophie Murray QC, prosecuting, said the drugs, which were over 90 per cent pure and had a total value of nearly £1,300, were found in their possession in the car along with drug paraphernalia, mobile phones linked to drug dealing and three knives when the police stopped them in Redditch.

Ms Murray said it was a cottage industry type enterprise with the drugs brought over from Birmingham.

Ms Murray said as well as the joint enterprise, while on bail Anderson, of Shifnal Walk, Longbridge, had committed the further offence of being involved in a cuckoo operation, drug dealing from the Derby home of another man who he sent out to deal in November 2018. Ms Murray said when that property was raided they found the drugs and cash, and a hunting knife, and Anderson later gave a no comment interview.

At an earlier hearing Anderson pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying class A drugs - cocaine and diamorphine - to another, two counts of possession of class A drugs - crack cocaine and diamorphine - with intent, and a further offence of possession of class B drugs - a quantity of cannabis.

“This was an enterprise they were intending to take forward,” Ms Murray said.

“They all had a significant role - they were aware of the operation, and they were in it for the money.

“Mr Anderson, he has a leading role (in the Derby offences).”

Balraj Bhatia OC, said the three he was defending, Allamby, Leachmen and Qureshi, all had a lesser role, each performing their role under direction.

“They couldn’t complain about an immediate custodial sentence,” he said.

“I ask you take a chance on them.

“They showed a lack of maturity, they have deep remorse.”

Mr Bhatia said Leachman, 23, of Pepperwood Drive, Northfield, had been naive to get involved and was starting afresh in Oxfordshire as he was soon to be a dad.

He said Allamby, 21, of Harvest Close, Birmingham, was a young man "who had his fingers burned", but highlighted he was making moves to turn his life around as a carer for his dad and aunt.

And on Qureshi, 21 of Highbury Road, Birmingham, he said he was a man with a bright future, and had already been doing rehabilitation through the help of his family.

“He has changed,” Mr Bhatia said, adding Qureshi had no previous convictions.

Simon Williams, defending Anderson, said the 24-year-old also had a lesser role.

“It is my submission it is not a leading role,” Mr Williams said.

“The amounts are not big, they are not larger scale, in kilograms.

“He could not be described as ‘Mr Big’.

“He is remorseful, he is ashamed.”

Sentencing the four, Judge Robert Juckes QC said: “You are all relatively young men.

“You all have relatively few previous convictions. It is for that reason, it is all the more shocking to realise in a case like this that the message of these courts, about dealing class A drugs, is not getting out.

"In Worcester, in these courts days after day, we see people commit crimes to pay dealers like you.”

Calling them "deterrent sentences", he gave Allamby, Leachman and Qureshi three years jail each, with Anderson jailed for seven years.

The four were also told they would pay court costs.