Sunderland drug dealer given extra time behind bars after bid for freedom rejected by judges

Tajudeen Adebola Ajadi supplied heroin to two street dealers, who in turn sold the drugs on to covert police officers.

The officers had gone undercover as drug addicts as part of Operation Brightside, designed to crack down on the supply of drugs in the Sunderland area.

The 51-year-old, formerly of St Bede's Terrace, Sunderland, was jailed for seven years in July last year.

He was found guilty of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

He today challenged his convictions at London's Criminal Appeal Court, insisting that his trial was unfair.

But he was sent packing by three senior judges - who branded him a time-waster and handed him an extra 21 days in prison.

The court heard Ajadi was supplying drugs to a pair of street dealers, who were unwittingly selling them on to undercover police officers between April and August 2014.

When his home was raided as the operation drew to a close, officers found a large amount of heroin.

He denied any wrongdoing, but was found guilty of both counts by a jury.

Making his appeal bid, Ajadi claimed the trial judge misdirected the jury and comments made by prosecuting lawyers 'prejudiced' his defence.

But, throwing out his complaints, Mr Justice Green said there was no unfairness and his convictions were entirely safe.

The judge added: "We consider that the grounds advanced by Ajadi are wholly without merit and we therefore make a loss of time order of 21 days."

Lord Justice McCombe and Judge Richard Griffith-Jones agreed with him.