A 30-YEAR-OLD man caught ‘driving’ for a drug dealer claimed he was only doing it because the man had promised to invest in his fish and chip shop.

Blackburn magistrates heard that since the offences in May Yasser Mahmood had obtained funding from another source and was running a takeaway business in Preston.

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And the magistrates tailored a curfew requirement on his bail to allow him to operate the Ribbleton Lane Chippy at night.

Mahmood, of Cornelian Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply. He was sent on bail to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced on February 6.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client had ‘fallen’ into the company of the man who was selling the drugs.

“There were promises made to him by the other man that he would invest in a takeaway business,” said Mr Taylor.

“Following his arrest he moved on and has now set up with another business partner. Since August he has been running the Ribbleton Lane Chippy.

The prosecution asked for bail conditions of a curfew between 7pm and 9am, residence and not to apply for international travel documents.

Mr Taylor said Mahmood was in the chippy seven days a week and closed at 11pm before taking staff home.

“He would ask that the curfew doesn’t commence until midnight to allow him to continue to run his business,” said Mr Taylor.

“The offences were all committed in the daytime.”