Couple forced to deliver cocaine for drug dealing thugs who threatened to cut them up

A Leeds couple who was forced to deliver drugs handed themselves into police after their "boss" threatened to cut them up.

On February 27, West Yorkshire Police received a call from a man claiming that he and his partner were being forced to act as delivery drivers for a drug dealer in the city. He told officers where his girlfriend was at that time and in what car, Leeds Crown Court heard on Monday, November 11.

Prosecutor Felicity Hemlin said police attended and found the woman, Umar Khan and Arshad Mahmood in the car. She said: "Umar Khan at first refused to open the door and Arshad Mahmood threatened to smash a phone. Arshad Mahmood tried to drag something from the centre console of the car."

READ MORE:Mum slams 'nasty people' who called her Christmas tree 'worst ever'

READ MORE:Leeds gangster killed himself after 'antagonistic' guard danced outside his cell

The court heard 100 wraps of cocaine, with an estimated value of £800, and 20 wraps of heroin, with an estimated value of £250, were found. Khan was also found to be in possession of cash.

Ms Hemlin said that while under arrest he shouted: "You know what to do" to males who had attended the scene.

A phone seized showed messages corroborating the story from the couple who said they were threatened and ordered to help deliver drugs. The prosecutor said: "Arshad Mahmood said he was a drug user and was in the car buying drugs, he said from Umar Khan, and was in a drug debt."

The court heard the man who had reported them to police said he had been asked by Khan to deliver and was "threatened" and told he would be "cut up."

Ms Hemlin said: "It got so bad that he took the step of calling the police on himself and the woman. Both of those were told to drive whatever car and men would show up there and they [Khan and Mahmood] would be the ones doing the drug dealing and they would sit in while they were driving...They worked all over Leeds to do so and were paid £10 to £20 here and there but the dealers would turn up to the house and said they would be cut up if they didn't get in the car and drive."

The court heard the man claimed he had even been stabbed by another drug dealer as he went about his work. The woman told officers she did not want to deliver but did so "because of the threats of violence."

Ms Hemlin said: "She described being treated like a slave and forced to work against her will."

Khan, at the time, was a disqualified driver. Ms Hemlin added: "That seems a very good reason why he may have compelled someone else to drive him around."

Khan also fell to be sentenced for a separate drugs indictment, the offences of which took place in Bradford in June 2021 when he was caught with cocaine and cash.

Ms Hemlin summarised the victim impact statements written to the court by the couple forced to deal drugs. She sad: "The man reports that he is scared to go out of his accommodation and feared what would happen to him and his friends and family and fears visiting them in case he is followed.

"She says she has bad anxiety, stress and depression and had to move out of her property and into temporary accommodation. She was threatened with violence if she was to attend court and was scared to go out and see friends and gamily and has had to leave Leeds."

The court heard Khan, 26, of Thornberry Drive, Bradford, had previous convictions on his record for possession with intent to supply class A drugs. Mahmood, 43, of Duchy Drive, Bradford, had offences of a dissimilar nature on his record.

Get all the latest and breaking crime news in Leeds by signing up to our Crime and Punishment newsletter here.

Representing Mahmood, Matthew Harding said in mitigation he has been subjected to threats on him and his family while he has been in custody. He said he lost his employment as a taxi driver, and his marriage broke down, after he started to take drugs. Mr Harding said: "This led to a downward spiral in his life and that's how he came to be in the position he did.

"The reason for him being involved was that addiction and he would receive drugs. He is candid that some days he wouldn't be straight because he was using drugs so - in his words - would end up 'chasing his own tail all day long.'"

Shufqat Khan, for Khan, said a letter from his father had been handed in to tell of his son growing up without him. Mr Khan said: "His father blames himself for it but the defendant accepts he has to take his share of the blame. To his credit, and this is a point I know the defendant would like me to make for him, is the progress he has made in custody.

"The defendant has done a significant amount of growing up while in custody. He works in the kitchen servery and has applied to go on further. It appears while in custody he has discovered a passion for catering and that is something he would like to explore going further.

"He has taken two voluntary drug tests and both came back negative...He has the benefit of a supportive family and they have been supporting him through his time in custody."

Her Honour Judge Rayfield jailed Khan for six years and nine months and Mahmood for two years and nine months.

LeedsLive has launched a WhatsApp community and anyone who joins will get the latest breaking news and top stories sent direct to their phone. To join click here.

If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here.