Wavertree taxi driver jailed for dealing cocaine
A court heard the 53-year-old turned to the drug after losing work during the pandemic
A taxi driver from Wavertree who turned to cocaine after being unable to work during the pandemic, has been jailed for dealing the drug.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that police stopped Salman Ahmed in his taxi in the city centre on August 4 last year and 29 packages of cocaine were found in his jacket.
When his home was searched a further 32 packages of the drug were found bringing the total potential street value of the cocaine up to £3,172.
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said that officers also found £560 cash and mobile phones. Ahmed, who has no previous convictions, made no comment when interviewed.
The 53-year-old defendant, a father-of-four, of Dulas Road, Wavertree, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
Defence lawyer Matthew O’Neill said that he was unable to work during the pandemic and turned to cocaine. He has had various other difficulties, including divorce proceedings, and has mental health challenges.
Jailing him for 39 months Judge Daniel Prowse said that Ahmed had been a hard working man but “had turned to crime as a consequence of the pandemic.”