A drug dealing teenager carrying a large hunting knife was "knocked to the floor" by a well-meaning member of the public after police became suspicious of him in Leeds city centre.
Qamar Kadir, now 19, was just 17 when he was spotted by police officers close to 11pm on March 19 last year in Leeds City Centre.
Leeds Crown Court heard on Friday officers noticed Kadir smelt strongly of cannabis and when they decided to follow him he "quickened his pace." Prosecutor Oliver Connor told the court he then turned and walked past them again. He said: "As he walked past them a second time, a police constable stopped him and asked what he was doing. He said he was looking for a particular bar in Leeds to meet his friends."
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The officers then searched Kadir on the system after he had provided his name and made the decision to arrest him - but he tried to make a run for it.
Mr Connor told the court: "He sprinted off in the direction of Call Lane and a member of the public knocked him to the floor and a search was conducted."
25 small bags of cocaine - with a total estimated street value of between £1,000 and £1,250 was found alongside around 2.41g of cannabis, £250 in cash, a large hunting knife and three mobile phones. One of the phones, the court heard, was heard to be "constantly ringing" and Mr Connor said an examination conducted showed a number of messages relating to drug dealing.
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It was said the messages related to the sale of cannabis.
Kadir - who had no previous convictions - pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of cannabis and possession of a bladed weapon in a public place at a plea, trial and preparation hearing. On Friday, he gave evidence to His Honour Judge Tom Bayliss KC and told him he had been pressured into selling drugs to pay off a debt. Kadir, an expectant father, said he had been dealing for "approximately six months" since September the year before.
He said he was "in fear" of those above him and said: "There was nothing I could do to protect me from then and as long as I do what I need to do for them I would no longer have to assist them - that was my intention."
Kadir told the court he was pressured into carrying the knife. Mr Connor asked if those above him would know if he had hidden the knife. He said: "I accept that. I didn't know any better, I was only new to this sort of lifestyle." He said he was intoxicated from cannabis at the time.
Judge Bayliss rejected the basis of plea that Kadir was pressured into dealing, and described his explanation for carrying the knife as "fanciful."
Lily Wildman, mitigating, said Kadir is due to be a father to a son in a month. She said he is a married man and has the potential for full-time employment and support. She said: "He saw domestic abuse and left his home and has made tracks to make sure history doesn't repeat itself and that is why he has worked to support his family and why he is before the court today admitting his role in these circumstances."
Judge Bayliss sentenced Kadir to 26 months in a Young Offenders' Institute and told him he must serve up to half of that time in custody before being released on licence. He told him: "You suggest you were in some way under compulsion to do this or groomed to do it or forced to do it. I reject that.
"It may well be that you had a drug debt and anyone who takes cannabis is likely to get thrown into debt in respect of it but you knew what you were doing and wasn't forced to do it. I find your explanation for carrying a knife incredible and the idea you were forced to carry a knife as incredible. You were motivated by a financial advantage."
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