A young man from Oldham who was found dealing high purity heroin has been jailed for more than three years.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard Shah Ali was spotted in a blue Ford Fiesta on Huddersfield Road on Christmas Eve in 2019.

After he was seen acting suspiciously he was pulled over and tested for drugs.

He was found to have cocaine in his system and so the vehicle was searched.

Officers found wraps of heroin and £870 in cash.

When interviewed Ali denied the offence but messages on his phone showed he has been involved in street dealing.

He later pleased guilty to possessing heroin with the intention of supplying it and being in concerned in the supply of cocaine and appeared in court to be sentenced.

He also admitted breaching a suspended sentence for affray by reoffending.

Prosecutor Robert Elias revealed the amounts of the drugs found.

He said: “There were 40 wraps of heroin, 4.75 grams worth £400.

“It had a purity value of 71 per cent which is fairly high.”

Representing the 25-year-old, defence counsel Helena Williams said the offending was out of character.

She said: “He had a debt, he was unable to pay it off by working and honest means.

“He was pressured into doing this.

“This offending is extremely out of character for Mr Ali.

“During the pandemic he has been an assistant to those who have suffered bereavements.”

She added that he was a carer for his mother who has physical and mental health problems.

Judge John Edwards said there was no alternative to a custodial sentence.

He said: “This is your first conviction for drugs, class A drugs I think you now appreciate shatter communities and ruin young lives and those engaged as you were I am afraid have to go to custody.

“They are nothing short of a scourge of today’s society causing misery, depression and sometimes death.

“I have read good things about you in those impressive references.

“You have a promising life ahead of you.

“You are from a loving family background, it is all the more upsetting to see you in this predicament.”

He jailed Ali, from Royle Close in Oldham, for 40 months.