Man pleads guilty to dealing cannabis in Northampton

A 25-year-old man has received an eight-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis in Northampton.

Mohammed Jamal Uddin was arrested on August 26 last year, after his black Ford Focus was stopped by an officer shortly before 1am in Northampton’s Wellingborough Road, following intelligence it was suspected of being used to deal drugs.

As the officer spoke to Uddin of Bostock Avenue, Northampton, he smelt what he believed to be cannabis coming from inside the car, and a search under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act was carried out.

Uddin admitted that he had a bag of cannabis, which was for personal use, inside the glove box. However, while speaking to him, the officer noticed another bag containing a cannabis bud had been dropped on the pavement.

When the officer searched the car, he also found a further four small bags of the class B drug near to the front seat, two plastic bags containing several cannabis buds wrapped in clingfilm within the centre console and a black Nokia phone sitting inside the car’s drink holder.

Uddin was taken into police custody, where a further 13 bags of cannabis were recovered after being found concealed in his underwear. However, he was released on police bail as the investigation continued before being informed, he had been charged via a postal requisition.

On Thursday, June 15, at Northampton Magistrates’ Court, Uddin pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug – namely cannabis – and the possession of another person’s identity documents.

The case was committed to Northampton Crown Court for sentencing and on Friday, July 28, Uddin was sentenced to eight months in prison - suspended for 18 months, ordered to carry out a 200 unpaid work requirement and to complete a 50-day rehabilitation activity.

Response Officer PC Lewis Marks, who led the investigation, said: “I acted on intelligence from the community about Uddin’s drug dealing activities in Northampton, which directly led to his arrest and charge.

“Uddin pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and although some people may not see this as a tough enough sentence, I hope this deters anyone else who is thinking of dealing drugs in Northamptonshire.

“Drug harm is a matter of priority for the Force, and we will continue to tenaciously enforce and disrupt drug dealers, who prey on the most vulnerable people in our society and bring misery to our streets and communities.”

Last May, Chief Constable Nick Adderley launched the Force’s Matters of Priority for the next three years, and along with serious violence, serious and organised crime, violence against women and girls, drug harm was included. More details can be found at www.northants.police.uk

If anyone has concerns about drug dealing, or someone becoming drawn into gang culture, please report it to us on 101, online at www.northants.police.uk/ro or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.