Mohammed Hussain was arrested following a raid at his house

Mohammed Hussain was arrested following a raid at his house in Providence Street, Blackburn, on January 12.

Alistair Reid, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court said police attended his address around 6.30am and found snap bags containing cannabis, £5,000 in cash, more cannabis and weighing scales.

He said: “The total value of the cannabis was around £1,670.

“The search of his property came about due to an investigation into a drugs line known as the ‘sham line’, and communications between the defendant and another man, who is thought to have been a street dealer.

“The defendant was acting as a manager on behalf of yet another man, and one of his co-defendants, who are both due to stand trial for drugs conspiracy charges next year.

“The Crown say this was a joint enterprise, with one of his co-defendants playing the leading role and Hussain his right-hand man.

Mohammed Hussain (Image: Lancs Police)

“His phone was analysed and over a lengthy period of several months there were communications between Hussain and the street dealer, referring to the quantities of cannabis available, with amounts worth £600 to be split into £20 bags.

“There seems to have been a significant amount of communication indicating the defendant’s involvement, and one of his co-defendants sent him a video of a 1kg shrink-wrapped bag of cannabis worth a reported £4,500.

“There is a unit linking Hussain to his two co-defendants, who were involved in the production of cannabis, but there is no indication that this defendant was involved in the production of the drug.”

Hussain, 32, was arrested on January 12 and appeared before magistrates on January 13, where he was remanded into custody.

He has 11 convictions for 18 offences, many of them drug related.

Mr Reid said Hussain had served a 32-month sentence in 2015 and then a further 52-month sentence in 2017 for class A drugs offences.

He said: “There was a clear awareness and understanding of the operation, and two other men will be standing trial in February for their part in the production of the cannabis.”

In his defence, it was heard that Hussain is a qualified plasterer, and his family are keen to see him turn this trade into a business venture and turn his back on drug dealing.

Recorder Daniel Prowse said: “This was more than just supply, it was a conspiracy, but you are not being sentenced for conspiracy, only supply.

“You were also linked to an address where cannabis was found but you are not being sentenced for the supply or production of that cannabis, but that does give an indication of the cannabis that was supplied to you for onward supply.

“Your previous convictions demonstrate full well that you know how serious involvement with drugs is, and you knew that what you were doing was wrong.”

Hussain was jailed for 13 months, but as he has already served almost seven months on remand will be released imminently, and spend the remaining six and a half months on licence.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing has been set for later in the year.