A DEALER caught with £1,800 of cannabis calmly led police directly to his stash in his dad’s shed.

Badral Hussain, 39, of Collins Way, Leigh, had officers visit his address on September 7 last year following reports of a disturbance and suspicion of cannabis dealing.

Police officers arrived at the address at 4am, questioning Hussain’s father who seemed “confused”.

Hussain then came to the door and led officers to his shed which contained the drugs.

Drug experts said there were 340 grams of cannabis with a street value of £1,800.

Hussain was arrested, put on curfew, and pleaded guilty at Southend Magistrates Court before being sentenced yesterday.

Phillippa Page, prosecuting, said: “An iPhone burner phone was also seized with messages indicating fairy standard drug dealing, there doesn’t seem to be a wide customer base.

“Prior to this offence Mr Hussain was of virtually good character with one possession of cannabis offence going back to 2005.

“It doesn’t seem to be the most sophisticated operation and he said he was only selling to acquaintances.

“This is difficult confirm - but he does not seem to be part of a wider operation or have any controlling influence over anybody else.”

Kevin Toomey, mitigating, said Hussain’s small customer base was perhaps his best argument.

He said: “In my submission we can see by the charmingly rare candour with which Mr Hussain confessed, which was refreshingly mature, I believe when he says he was only selling to friends he genuinely was.

“Mr Hussain has worked for many years in his father’s Indian restaurant which he continued to do until Covid.

“His father had less need for Mr Hussain’s hours and the lessened shifts were not enough for him to look after himself so he chose to buy in bulk and sell to his friends, effectively paying for his habit.”

“It was a foolish way in which he chose to fund his own habit and the court can be greatly assured that this is a man who will not be before the courts again.”

Recorder Angela Frost handed Hussain an 18-month community order with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 100 hours of unpaid work.