A drug dealer who transferred nearly £100,000 between bank accounts has walked out of court after being handed a suspended sentence. Vayeed Khan was arrested in Middlesbrough and found with wraps of cocaine and a wad of cash.
On May 20, 2024, Khan was stopped by police officers while driving an Audi on Maddren Way, in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, where three mobile phones were found in the side door. Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told the court that Khan was arrested and searched, with six wraps of cocaine uncovered in his trouser leg along with £2,770 in cash.
Aggressive behaviour in custody
He was held for questioning and further investigation, and while in a police cell the 43-year-old became aggressive, demanding to know when he would be interviewed and when he would be released. He threw food over his cell and shouted at a detention officer: "You f***ing white b******."
The detention officer stated he was "alarmed and offended by racist comments made by the defendant". An investigation revealed that Khan had transferred £97,533.54 between two bank accounts over the course of a year.
Basis of plea and background
Outlining Khan's basis of plea, Mr Dryden said: "The defendant says he was a user of class A drugs and he ran up a debt and was selling drugs to pay that debt off. He accepted there came a point where he was dealing controlled drugs without pressure from those involved in the drugs trade."
Khan, who has 11 previous convictions for 19 offences, admitted supplying and possessing cocaine, possessing and transferring criminal property, and racially aggravated harassment. His barrister, Stephen Constantine, said Khan was trying to pay the debt off by acting as a minder.
But shortly after accepting, the drugs were stolen and his "debt went through the roof". Members of his family reported pressure and threats being made to both Khan and his family.
Sentence and requirements
Mr Constantine added: "[Khan] is someone who is described as having motivation to tackle the issues that he faces... He feels as if he has let his family down."
Khan, of Devonport Road, was handed a three-year sentence suspended for two years. He has also been made subject to a drug rehabilitation requirement.
