Drug dealer gets six years

A 52-year-old Wellington man has been jailed for six years after being found guilty of dealing in class A drugs.

Detectives today revealed that they had been alerted to the activities of Javeed Akhtar, of Victoria Avenue, by his customers who were concerned after they found that they were suffering an "unusual reaction" from the heroin which they were purchasing from Akhtar.

Some lost consciousness, while others were admitted to hospital or found themselves arrested for offences they could not remember committing, police said.

Akhtar was jailed at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday after being found guilty of possessing heroin on September 18 last year with intent to supply.

He was also found guilty of supplying heroin to another on the same date.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Edwards, leading the investigation, said: "This operation was prompted by drug users themselves who were concerned that the heroin they were buying was causing them to lose consciousness.

"As a result of this unusual reaction, a number of them were admitted to hospital, while others found themselves arrested for offences that they were not aware they had committed.

"It appears that the drugs they were using were being mixed with another agent of some sort to bulk it up and this was being done without any thought for the user - just with an eye on making a greater profit."

Mr Andrew Barkley, prosecuting, said undercover police officers followed Akhtar on September 18, following information about drugs being supplied in the area, and witnessed a transaction between Akhtar and another man.

Mr Mark Sharman, for Akhtar, said he strongly denied the offences for which he was convicted.

The court heard Akhtar had admitted two charges of possessing class A drugs, a charge of possessing a class C drug and failing to surrender on time to court on June 15 this year.

Akhtar was sentenced to six years in prison for dealing in class A drugs.

He was also sentenced to three months for two charges of possessing class A drugs and one month for possession of a class C drug to run concurrently.

No separate penalty was given for the charge of failing to surrender.

By Rhea Parsons and Wayne Beese