A materialistic student who accepted high priced clothing given as a 'gift' sent from a 'friend of a friend' was later told that if he could not pay back the price of the garments in cash he would have to deal drugs to pay it back. At the time Ibrahim Yousef, 19, asked no questions about the seemingly generous garments but later received the unpleasant surprise that he was actually to pay for them all.
The teenager confessed to Hull Crown Court that he had been in possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply on June, 30, Hull Live reports. Prosecutor, Neil Coxon said that police had spotted Yousef exiting the home of an infamous local drug user on Beverley Road and searched him after presuming that he had played a part in a drug deal.
The police found heroin and crack cocaine on his person along with £115 in cash and two mobile phones. He was arrested and his home was searched.
Police found £500 in a wallet in his bedroom. More heroin and crack cocaine were found in the kitchen.
In total, there was 8.94g of crack cocaine with a purity of 86 to 89 per cent and 776mg of heroin, with 43 per cent purity. Ibrahim later claimed: "A friend of a friend came to stay at my property. I was not aware that this friend was dealing drugs.
''A male bought me some clothes, which I accepted. I did not pay any money to the male for the clothing. When the male left, another male attended at my property and asked for money for the clothing.
''I explained that I could not pay for the clothing and it was a gift. I was told that, if I could not pay for the clothing, I would have to sell drugs to repay the money owed. I accept that I was involved in dealing Class A drugs for one to two weeks before my arrest.
''I was provided with a phone by the person who attended my address. I was placed under pressure to deal the drugs. I had no influence on anyone above me in the chain and I was not aware of the scale of the operation. I did not receive any payment for dealing drugs."
Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Yousef accepted that he was put under pressure to deal drugs but this fell short of the legal defence of duress. Yousef, from Sudan, was doing an engineering course at college and could return to that. He had been in custody on remand.
Recorder Gurdial Singh said that Yousef was "desirous of expensive clothing" while living in Hull after coming to this country. He played a lesser role in the drugs operation.
"This is a case of street dealing," said Recorder Singh. "You were performing a function under direction, having little influence on those above you in the chain."
Yousef was given a 15-month suspended custodial sentence, 80 hours' unpaid work and 15 days' rehabilitation. The cash found will be forfeited.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
