TWO MEN JAILED IN DRUGS OPERATION


TWO men caught in a drugs operation by the police in Hemel Hempstead were jailed on Monday.

Ian Fellowes allowed his home to be used for the storing and dealing of cocaine and cannabis. Shakil Ahmed was found in Hemel in his father's car with half a kilo of cannabis he had collected from Luton.

St Albans crown court heard Fellowes received three bags of cannabis for allowing his home to be used to store drugs over a five or six month period.

Prosecutor Ann Evans said the value of the drugs found in the car driven by Ahmed was £2,700.

Fellowes, 39, of Livingstone Walk, Hemel Hempstead pleaded guilty to allowing his premises to be used for cocaine and cannabis dealing. He was in breach of a conditional discharge imposed for shoplifting.

Ahmed, 31, of Bradley Road, Luton admitted possessing 500 grams of cannabis with intent to supply. He was in breach of a community rehabilitation order imposed just three days before his arrest on 17 October last year.

Richard Storey, defending Fellowes, said he had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He said Fellowes had suffered drug addiction, type 2 diabetes and depression. He said he had begun abusing substances when he was aged just 10.

Mr Storey said Fellowes had a high capacity to change, but was still addicted to prescription drugs.

For Ahmed, Mancja Rupasingh said he had been called to transport the drugs to Hemel Hempstead. He said Ahmed, who lives with his partner and three year old daughter, was getting clear of drugs and was receiving methadone.

Judge Stephen Warner told Fellowes: "You allowed your address to be used over a 5 to 6 month period for the storage and supply of drugs. In your case you received some reward. " He jailed him for 16 months with a further 7 days for the breach of the conditional discharge.

The judge told Ahmed: "You acted as a courier of a considerable quantity of cannabis. You played a willing part in transporting the drug to the address. " He jailed him for 16 months for the drug offence plus a further month for breaching the community order.