Asylum seeker jailed for drug dealing just carried on after release from prison
Sarwar Mohammed has been locked up again
Sarwar Mohammed(Image: GMP)
An asylum seeker jailed for dealing cocaine and cannabis simply carried on after being released from prison.
Sarwar Mohammed, originally from Iraq, was stopped in Cheetham Hill by police in August. It came a short time after the 35-year-old had been released on licence following a previous jail sentence for the exact same crimes.
Mohammed told Manchester Crown Court that he was homeless and unable to find legitimate work, and had no other option in order to feed himself.
But Judge Nicholas Dean KC, the Honorary Recorder of Manchester, said: “Mr Mohammed needs to understand that although the court accepts that he, as an asylum seeker, faces real challenges and difficulties, that is no excuse nor mitigation for involvement again in dealing in class A drugs.”
Prosecuting, William Donnelly said that police responded to reports of drug dealing in Cheetham Hill on August 7. A description of a man was given, which Mohammed fitted when officers arrived.
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As he was spoken to, another office spotted some bin bags in a nearby alleyway. They contained more than 60 deals of cannabis, and 36 snap bags of cocaine.
When he was arrested, Mohammed was found to have £234 on his person.
The drugs were not valued, but Mr Donnelly said single deals of cannabis are often bought for about £5, and snap bags of cocaine can cost £50, depending on the purity of the drugs
Mohammed had been jailed months earlier at the same court for dealing in cocaine and cannabis. In January, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
“It therefore can reasonably be assumed that the current offences occurred a short time after his release on licence,” Mr Donnelly said.
Mohammed was not legally represented during the hearing, but spoke with the judge through an interpreter.