A ‘RING and bring’ cocaine and cannabis supplier whose Keighley-based business stretched from Shipley to Skipton has been jailed for two years and nine months.

Mahboob Aslam had £5,180 in cash seized from his home when the police raided it on October 24 last year.

A BMW parked outside the property contained 40 packages of cannabis and an incriminating phone was also found, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday (Friday). 

Aslam, 37, of Prior Street, Keighley, at first denied any knowledge of the phone and claimed he wasn’t involved in drug dealing.

He went on to plead guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, between June 26 last year and October 24.

Aslam also admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply it and possession of the seized cash as criminal property.

Prosecutor Giles Bridge said Aslam ran a ‘ring and bring’ dealer line from an unregistered pay-as-you-go phone. He sent out bulk messages advertising the supply of cocaine in three different quantities, saying it was available ‘until late.’

Customers could pay by bank transfer into his account and an extra £10 was charged to deliver to Shipley.

Mr Bridge said messages showed that the business dealt with users in Skipton as well.

On October 24, Aslam was in a Skoda in Bradford when a suspected drugs sale took place from the vehicle. Later that day he was arrested in Keighley town centre.

A wrap of cocaine was found in the police vehicle that transported him following his arrest.

Andrew Stranex said in mitigation that Aslam was respected and liked by those who knew him. His letter to the court was open and honest and there were references that spoke well of him.

He had a wife and two young children and his concern was for them.

Aslam asked the court to consider an alternative to immediate custody given the amount of time he had spent in prison on remand and then on a qualifying curfew.

Mr Stranex said the ‘ring and bring’ method of drugs supply was well established in the Bradford area. Aslam was naïve enough to give out his own bank account details so he was always going to be caught.

Judge Colin Burn said Aslam’s involvement in drugs trafficking was brought about by his heavy cannabis use. He was trying to pay back money he owed for that.

He was playing a significant role in the operation, transferring money from one account to another and a large amount of cash was found at his home address when it was searched.