Chef caught with crack cocaine during raid on Shropshire curry house is sentenced

Manajid Shabir, pleaded guilty to two separate charges when he appeared before Telford Magistrates Court.

The 51-year-old, from Victoria Avenue, Wellington, admitted possession of a controlled dug of class A - crack cocaine, and possession of a controlled drug of class C - pregabalin.

The charges came after a police raid in the Shabab restaurant in Wem on August 4, 2023.

The court was told that the restaurant had been sold following the raid.

Kate Price, prosecuting, told the court that Shabir had been working at the restaurant as a chef when police raided the premises on a summer's evening.

She said that when they attended Shabir was found to have both crack cocaine and pregablin in his possession.

Admitted drug use

He was arrested and admitted having the pregablin illegally, and that he was a drug user.

Ms Price added that Shabir had not been in trouble with the police for 25 years and should effectively be treated as a man of good character.

Ameer Rashid, mitigating on Shabir's behalf, said the 51-year-old had submitted a timely guilty plea and had taken steps to tackle his drug use since the arrest.

Mr Rashid said Shabir was a class A drug user at the time and was working to feed his habit.

He added that Shabir was now not using drugs and was on methodone - with the dosage significantly reduced since he started.

Chairman of the bench, Lisa Peters, told Shabir he would be fined a total of £160 for the offences - this was reduced from £240 because of his guilty plea.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £64 and £85 costs.