A MAN who sent a text to a friend offering to sell him ‘dynamite’ cocaine has avoided jail.

Burnley Crown Court heard how police seized a mobile phone belonging to Sohail Khan, 20, after finding him with the drug temazepam in a car and discovered three text messages which showed his involvement in dealing drugs.

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The court heard that just after 4pm on November 3, last year, Khan sent a text message on his green Nokia phone to a man known to him advertising he was selling the class A drug.

Prosecuting, Peter Barr said the initial text read “Dynamite sniff.”

Mr Barr said Khan received an incoming message which read “It’s Ricky mate.

“Can I get a 20 off you?”

The defendant is then said to have responded by saying ‘nothing at the moment’.

Mr Barr said when police searched Khan’s address they recovered no drugs.

Mr Barr said: “Effectively there was one advertising text, one ordering text and one text saying ‘nothing at the moment’.”

Defending, Mark Stuart, said his client is addicted to temazepam and had been influenced by another man.

Mr Stuart said: “The quantity involved is effectively one wrap valued at £20. He’s offering it to somebody he knows.

“There is only one wrap being spoken about and he didn’t even have one.

“He’s addicted to temazepam which he was found with in the car. That was for his own use and there is no charge for that.

“His father has been made bankrupt. It is nothing to do with the defendant but it means he is going to leave the house he is at and move with his family to Bury.

“He is in the car with another offender who is more recognised to the court. He keeps trying to contact the defendant but he is not answering his calls.

“This is a warning shot.”

Khan, of Southfield Street in Nelson, pleaded guilty to offering to supply a Class A drug to another.

He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, made subject of a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and told to pay the statutory victim surcharge.

Judge Beverley Lunt said: “I don’t see many cases in front of me of a 20-year-old with no previous convictions facing an offence this serious based on the fact you have sent a text advertising selling cocaine. There can be no excuse ever for being involved in drug dealing,”