Drug dealer jailed for selling heroin and cocaine on estate

Undercover police spotted Sajid Ali closing a deal with a woman on the Topping Fold estate at 9am before he tried to flee the scene in his car.

In the ensuing police chase the 39-year-old threw out a bundle of high purity heroin and crack cocaine, worth £2,500, from his window.

When officers stopped his car they found him in possession of a crack pipe and burner phone containing messages about drug deals he was planning to make later that day.

Sentencing Ali, of Rochdale Road, Bury, to another four years in prison, Judge Richard Mansell slammed the 39-year-old for 'peddling misery and death'.

Manchester Crown Court heard how on June 3, a DC Jones and DC Catlow were on patrol on the Topping Fold estate in an unmarked police car.

At around 9am the officers noticed Ali meeting with a suspected drug dealer in the middle of the street.

John Kennelly, prosecuting, told the court that "they observed a female, whom they knew to be a drug dealer, holding cash.

"The defendant approached this individual, driving a Honda Civic, pulled up by the female, and beckoned her over.

"She then got into the passenger seat and the officers suspected a drug deal was taking place."

DCs Jones and Catlow called in a marked police car located nearby and the two vehicles then pursued Ali, the court heard.

While they were tailing Ali, DC Jones noticed the 39-year-old had thrown a packet out of his car window.

This was later found strewn on the pavement containing 95 wraps of 62 per cent purity crack cocaine, and 10 wraps of 69 per cent purity heroin, Mr Kennelly said.

He added that these drugs had an estimated street value of between £2,000 and £2,500.

Ali eventually pulled up his Honda and was arrested.

Topping Fold Road, in the Topping Fold estate, Bury. Photo: Google Maps

In a search of his car officers found a crack pipe and two mobiles phones.

One of these phones was said to contain 'incriminating messages' about 'arrangements for selling class A drugs that day', Mr Kennelly said.

Once in police custody Ali said he could not provide any explanation for the messages, nor why he was on the Topping Fold estate and had thrown the drugs out of the window.

Mr Kennelly told the court that these suggested Ali's role in drug dealing were 'significant'.

At an earlier hearing Ali pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Katy Laverty, defending, said Ali was 'extremely remorseful for his actions'.

She added that, since being released from prison in 2013 for other drugs offences, Ali had 'managed to turn his life around for a significant period'.

"He stopped his drug habit and dealing but over the last year his circumstances very much changed," Ms Laverty said.

"His marriage broke down and he moved back in with his parents, both aged 65.

"His dad has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the diagnosis hit Ali hard."

During this time Ali had helped care for his father and did his shopping, the court heard.

But he also began to take and then deal in drugs again.

"Life will be more difficult for his parents now," Ms Laverty continued.

"The defendant understands that is something he is responsible for and he will have to live with that."

Sending Ali back to jail, Judge Mansell said: "A lengthy sentence is again required to punish and deter you and others from peddling misery and death.

"Because that is what drugs cause, regardless of the cause ­— which for you is a return to taking and dealing drugs."