Sunderland drug dealer jailed after boasting about booming business

In a series of messages found on two mobile phones, Murshed Ahmed prided himself on his 'personal best' of mephedrone sales, bragged about his daily deals and warned what would happen if rivals strayed onto his 'patch'.

In a period of just ten days in May last year, the 28-year-old received 316 incoming messages on one iPhone, mostly related to dealing in drugs.

Ahmed had been pulled over by the police who were suspicous about the modified car he was driving around Sunderland in the early hours of May 7 last year.

The officers found self-seal bags containing traces of white powder and scales inside the car.

Newcastle Crown Court heard when taken to the police station, Ahmed had three bags of mephedrone hidden in his underwear and was carrying £390 in cash.

Proscutor Emma Dowling said: "It was the information contained on the mobile telephones that the prosecution rely on to say he had them with the intention to supply and was, at the time, a prolific street dealer of mephedrone."

The court heard the text messages revealed Ahmed employed at least one 'assistant' in his drugs business and indicated he was able to source significant quantities of the drug on demand.

Miss Dowling added: "In one message he appears to be threatening someone as to what would happen to them if they sold drugs in his patch in Sunderland."

During one message Ahmed said "Bro, you do what you think is best for your business, I am happy with the way things are with mine".

In another Ahmed bragged about 'see how much I can sell' and boasted: "My personal best is 20 ounces in five days, that's only last week".

He claimed to be selling two ounces per day to customers.

Ahmed, of Northcote Avenue, Hendon, Sunderland, admitted possessing mephedrone with intent to supply and obstructing a police constable by giving a false name when he was first pulled over.

Mr Recorder William Lowe QC sentenced him to eight months behind bars.

The judge told him: "For whatever reason, you set yourself up in what you described as a business, in texts you referred to it as such, selling drugs in the Sunderland area.

"The text messages I have been referred to, over a period of ten or 11 days, contain references indicating your personal best of 20 ounces over five days, reference to business being two ounces per day, references to giving discounts for cash and threats to rivals.

"If people indulge in the drugs business they doubtless get large profits but they take on large risks."

Vic Laffey, defending, said Ahmed's drug trade was a short lived venture, set up to cope with his own drug debts.

Mr Laffey said Ahmed's father sent him to rehabilitation in Bangladesh, which he found an 'horrendous' experience and added: "He was in a worse state when he came back".

The court heard since his arrest 14 months ago, Ahmed has started working at a pizzeria and is now married.

Mr Laffey added: "Things are back on track, having gone dramatically wrong."