A man who was caught in possession of a large amount of cocaine in Brierfield has been sentenced along with his brother, who was concerned in the supply of the drugs.

Khalil Hussain, 41, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property at a plea and trial preparation hearing in February.

Munir Hussain, 43, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine on the day of his trial in June.

Preston Crown Court heard how on Saturday, September 11, 2021, police officers were performing a routine patrol in Chapel Street, Brierfield.

Oliver Saddington, prosecuting, said Khalil Hussain was stood next to two cars, a grey BMW and a grey Audi.

Officers searched the boot of the Audi and recovered an iPhone along with a fabric bag containing plastic bags of cocaine, while £180 was also recovered from the driver’s side compartment and £105 from Hussain’s trouser pocket.

A search of the BMW found a wash bag containing the same bags used to pack the cocaine found in the Audi, plus a set of electronic scales, £160 in cash, and mobile phones which rang and received texts throughout the detention.

Mr Saddington said: “In due course, the fabric bag containing the cocaine was analysed and tests revealed prints belonging to Munir, which were also found on the bags of cocaine.

“A search of both addresses was conducted. At Khalil Hussain’s property, police gained access to a safe in a bedroom and seized £4,900 in cash.

“At Munir Hussain’s property, police recovered a phone which was analysed and revealed a number of messages and tick lists consistent with involvement in the supply of class A drugs.

“A total of 60.09g of cocaine was recovered with 76 per cent purity. They were arranged in three knotted plastic packages. Two packages weighted approximately 27g each. The remaining bag weighed 6.02g.

“The 27g packages were valued between £2,800 and £4,000, and the package weighing 6.02g was valued at around £480. The total valuation for the cocaine was between £3,280 and £4,480.”

Khalil Hussain, who has 26 convictions for 56 offences, was interviewed and gave no comment responses.

Munir Hussain, who has 42 convictions for 93 offences, was interviewed and denied involvement in the supply of drugs.

Mark Stewart, mitigating for Khalil Hussain, said: “There was no evidence he had an operational management function within the chain.

“I accept there is an expectation of significant financial gain. He was going to receive some finances from it.”

Richard English, mitigating for Munir Hussain, said his client’s role was that of ‘bagging up’.

He added Hussain had owned a phone shop that was badly affected by Covid, and its closure left him in debt which led to him involving himself “in the business of bagging up drugs.”

Passing sentence, Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi said: “On September 11, 2021, police officers were undertaking a routine patrol. Khalil Hussain, they detained you at the time.

“When the Audi was searched they discovered an iPhone and a bag containing cocaine. You were also stood near a BMW. Similar drug packaging was found in that car.

“The supply of drugs has a significant impact on other members of society, including those who are the victims of crime and other drug users.”

Recorder Siddiqi sentenced Khalil Hussain, of no fixed abode but with links to Brierfield, to two years, seven months in prison and Munir Hussain, of Thorngate Road, Cheetham Hill, Greater Manchester, to six years and three months, giving a total of almost nine years between them.