A Bradford drug dealer was caught after police found selfies of him on a mobile phone containing messages linked to heroin and crack cocaine dealing.
Khuram Shahzad, 27, has been jailed for five years and 219 days after admitting being concerned in the supply of both Class A drugs.
Bradford Crown Court heard Shahzad had only been out of prison for a matter of months when he returned to street dealing.
Plain-Clothed Police Spotted Suspected Deal
On June 29, plain-clothed officers saw Shahzad in a car with another male and suspected drug dealing was taking place.
The vehicle was stopped and both occupants were searched.
Police seized a mobile phone which had been charging inside the car.
Officers were able to attribute the device to Shahzad after finding selfies of him stored on it.
Phone Contained Drug-Dealing Messages
The phone was later examined by a police expert.
Messages recovered from the device were said to be indicative of the sale of heroin and crack cocaine.
The court heard the evidence showed Shahzad was operating as a street-level Class A drug dealer.
He was also found to have performed an operational role within a drug supply chain, directed another person and played a significant part in street dealing.
The second male, a youth who cannot be named because of his age, is due to face trial.
Shahzad Exercised Right To Silence
During a police interview, Shahzad, of Tern Street in Canterbury, exercised his right to silence.
He later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.
Previous Drug Convictions
The court heard Shahzad had previous convictions for drug offences.
In December 2025, he was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.
Despite that sentence, the court heard he returned to dealing only three to four months after being released.
Drug Debts Raised In Mitigation
In mitigation, the court was told Shahzad had a background of substance misuse and became involved with cannabis at a young age.
His defence said he had returned to drug dealing because of debts.
It was accepted that he had “foolishly” gone back onto the streets within months of being released from custody.
Judge Calls Him ‘Third-Strike Drug Trafficker’
Shahzad appeared at Bradford Crown Court by video link from HMP Leeds.
Recorder Simon Eckersley said Shahzad should have understood the seriousness of his offending after previous prison sentences.
He told him: “You must have known by then the seriousness of what you were doing.”
The judge said the harm caused by Class A drug dealing extended beyond users themselves and affected families, friends and the wider community through theft, assaults, violence and disorder associated with addiction.
He added: “On any view you are a street-level dealer of Class A drugs.”
Previous Convictions Significantly Aggravated Sentence
Recorder Eckersley said Shahzad’s previous convictions significantly aggravated the offence.
He described him as a “third-strike drug trafficker”.
The judge said Shahzad would have been warned during his previous sentencing about the consequences of committing further drug trafficking offences.
Despite that, he had returned to dealing within just a few months of release.
Sentenced To 2,045 Days
Shahzad was sentenced to 2,045 days in prison, equivalent to five years and 219 days.
He will serve up to half of the sentence in custody before being released on licence for the remainder.
