A 29-year-old man who tried to hide cash, cocaine and a mobile phone on the roof of his home in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, has been given a suspended prison sentence. Hasnen Iqbal, of Havelock Place, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug, cannabis. The case was first reported by the Stoke Sentinel.

What the court heard

Prosecutor Barry White told the court that police carried out a search warrant at two neighbouring properties in Havelock Place at 6.15am on 9 June 2023. A police drone saw Iqbal climb out of a skylight and hide behind a chimney breast.

Mr White said Iqbal “concealed a number of items in the roof gutter” and, on his way back to the skylight, hid a large quantity of cash before climbing back into the house.

Officers recovered an empty snap bag and two small quantities of cocaine from the roof, weighing 1.7 grams and 2.34 grams, with estimated street values of between £80 and £160, and between £80 and £200. They also found an iPhone in a black case containing messages about cannabis supply, and £8,560 in cash. A further £1,200 or more was found inside the house.

In the neighbouring property, police found £550 in a safe and 4.06 grams of cocaine, valued at between £260 and £360.

Mitigation and sentence

Richard Brigden, mitigating, said Iqbal accepted sending the messages but said they related to cannabis and not a Class A drug. He said the defendant maintained that not all of the money recovered came from drug supply, and that he had been supplying to a wide social circle.

Mr Brigden told the court Iqbal had been “trying his best to turn his life around”, runs a business and has a child due early next year.

The court was told Iqbal has previous convictions, including possession with intent to supply a Class A drug in 2017, and received a suspended sentence last year for violent disorder.

Judge Richard McConaghy sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. The sentence includes 80 hours of unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

The judge said the phone showed Iqbal was a cannabis dealer who had directed another person to deliver drugs for him. He said the Crown accepted that the cocaine was for personal use. He also said he had read about the changes in the defendant’s life in recent years, and that these counted in his favour.

Cannabis is a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. A Proceeds of Crime mention hearing is due in the week beginning 5 October.