Birmingham judge expresses sadness at jailing drug dealer caught just two days after setting up

Yahoo

2 days ago

A judge expressed sadness at having to jail a drug dealer who was caught just two days after starting out in his illegal enterprise.
Imraj Randhawa was still setting up his client list when police spotted him supplying multiple known drug users in Bedworth, Warwickshire, within a few minutes of each other.
They stopped him and ultimately found around £200 worth of cocaine and heroin in his Ford Kuga car and back at his home.
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Officers also seized various weapons, including a machete and claw hammer, as well as mobile phones.
Randhawa claimed he only got into dealing after losing his job, trying to pay off his brother's debt and then becoming addicted to drink and cocaine himself.
The 34-year-old from Tresillian Road, Coventry was jailed for two and a half years at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday, July 23, dashing his faint hopes of a suspended sentence which has a two-year threshold.
He had pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.
Recorder William Webb KC said: "You made a bad choice. I think you know you made a bad choice and I am sure you would not make it again."
He added: "This is a sad case. I have reduced the sentence at each stage as much as I can legitimately.
"It does not go to a level where I'm permitted to consider a suspended sentence.
"That's the nature of class A drug dealing I am afraid."
Prosecutor Jas Dhaliwal told the court that shortly after 1.15pm on October 15 last year police arrested Randhawa in Saunders Avenue, Bedworth after observing him drive around in a Ford Kuga and interract with three known drugs users.
They found various wraps in his car as well as two mobile phones, a claw hammer and £45 in cash.
Officers seized further drugs and paraphernalia from a shoe box at his home and a list of contacts from his wardrobe.
One of the phones, a Nokia, was examined. Mr Dhaliwal said: "There were 19 messages between October 13 and October 15.
"The defendant was sending out marketing advertising messages to customers stating he's active.
"He received direct messages from users to him asking to buy drugs for cash or on tick. He was arranging meetings."
He added that a drugs expert witness concluded Randhawa had only set up the business two days before being caught.
"He was still attempting to build up a client base given the list of mobile phone contacts," said Mr Dhaliwal.
Jeevan Mann, defending, told the court Randhawa had a positive side to his character including teaching boxing to children.
He said: "This defendant was employed but his employment was terminated.
"He has a brother who had accumulated an extensive drug debt.
"This defendant then bore the responsibility of paying off the debt.
"As a consequence, he did start suffering mental health issues.
"He became depressed and anxious about paying the debt. Eventually he was offered the opportunity to earn money by way of supplying drugs.
"A decision he regrets. Looking back in hindsight he was naive to be getting involved in selling drugs."
Mr Mann stated Randhawa was given a phone, a list of contacts and was told what to do.
"At the same time, simultaneously, he began developong a dependence on alcohol and cocaine," he added.