A DRUG dealer has been locked up for six years after he was caught with crack cocaine and heroin three times in 12 months.

Muhammad Zyaad, 25, was first arrested by police in October 18 last year when he was spotted dealing Class A drugs to a woman from a hired Seat Leon car during the afternoon in Otley Road, Shipley.

Police tried to block his escape by putting unmarked cars in front and behind him, but he rammed one of them and drove off.

Ken Green, prosecuting at Bradford Crown Court, said the defendant lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a bus stop, causing significant damage to the car and the bus stop.

Mr Green said: “He ran off but was detained after a chase.

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“While he was running off he was seen to throw a plastic bundle down an alleyway next to Shipley Primary School as children were playing during their break.”

The package was examined and found to contain crack cocaine worth £330 and three packages of heroin.

Zyaad, of Highfield Road, Frizinghall, was released under investigation, but was arrested for the same offences on August 16 this year.

Police interceptors saw Zyaad speeding along Frizinghall Road in a VW Golf.

When he was pulled over, officers found a plastic bag containing 24 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin.

Zyaad was also searched and was found to have £245 of cash in his pockets.

Mr Green said the officers arrested him, but after he answered no comment in interview, he was released, again under investigation.

Twelve days later he was spotted by police in a VW Golf attempting to sell drugs to a known drug user in Shipley.

When officers intervened, Zyaad ran off, but was apprehended.

A man bag he was wearing was found to contain 52 wraps of crack cocaine with a street value of £342 and 24 wraps of heroin worth £140.

Zyaad also had £150 in cash.

Andrew Dallas, for Zyaad, said pressure was put on him to re-pay his debts each time he lost the drugs to police, and every time he was arrested, the debt increased.

The court heard the debt had started off as payment for some cannabis, but it quickly rose to £1,000 and he was forced to start dealing to pay it off.

Mr Dallas said: “He believes he would be safer from these intolerable pressures inside rather than outside, and that is the situation.

“He was a good lad, brought up in very difficult circumstances, compounded by poor health, who has ended up as yet another foot soldier for the sort of people police can only catch with elaborate phone evidence.

“Meanwhile, these people trot in here every day for sentence and those higher up the chain go on.

It was revealed in court Zyaad was suffering from severe digestion and swallowing issues and had undergone an operation on his oesophagus three months ago.

This caused him great difficulty eating and Mr Dallas said he would struggle in a prison environment.

“He is the child of a single parent home,” added the barrister.

“His mother had her own difficulties caused by being a single parent. He got into this situation when he was feeling lonely and his mother was pre-occupied with her relationship with her daughter and he looked for friends.”

Judge Neil Davey, QC, jailed Zyaad for six years for six charges of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply after he pleaded guilty at a previous hearing.

All of the sentences are concurrent.

He was found not guilty of dangerous driving after the prosecution offered no evidence.

The judge told him: “You played a significant role.

“I say that because, although you were under pressure to carry on dealing, nevertheless you did and carried on two further occasions dealing dangerous Class A drugs.”