Blackburn College students in drug-dealing ring

12:45pm Sunday 20th July 2008

TWO Blackburn college students were ‘crucial hand servants’ in a large drug-dealing ring.

But they were spared jail despite a judge saying they had been ‘trading in heartache’.

Zayn Sheikh, 17, and Khalil Afzal, 20, were capable of bringing grief and upset to drugs victims and their families, Burnley Crown Court heard. Sheikh, an ‘intermediary’ who transported hard drugs from high-end dealers to street pedlars, also collected cash and took it back to his employers. He had drugs with a street value of almost £2,000 at his home.

Afzal was said to be the look-out in case police were in the area. He may not have known the extent of Sheikh's dealings, the court heard.The pair were caught out after a random roadside police stop on February 23.

Judge Christina Lyon said the defendants and their families needed to realise the heartache caused by dealing.

Sheikh, of Hollingreave Road, Burnley, and Afzal, of The Boulevard, Preston, admitted being concerned in supplying heroin and crack cocaine.

Sheikh was given a six-month intensive supervision and surveill-ance programme with a six-month curfew, between 9pm and 7am.

His co-defendant got 39 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, with two years supervision and a six- month curfew.

Both formerly lived in Accrington, where the offences took place.

David Brangam, prosecuting, said the pair had been involved in drugs supply for a month. Sheikh stored drugs in his room at the family home and delivered packages of drugs to pre-arranged drop-offs.

He was paid £200 a week – £800 in total. Afzal was Sheikh's ‘back-up’.

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