This seems quite a rigmarole over what, in the grand scheme of things, doesn't seem that much. And not much of sentence either, assuming he keeps his nose clean.
And very little on the taxi driver angle anyway, except that he was one.
And I really just brushed over the narrative, so maybe missed the precise chronology. But the 'law-abiding life' in the headline - and as stated by the judge - seems a bit at odds with his two previous convictions for four drug offences
And it reads like the previous convictions must have happened either while or before he had a badge?
Jesmond taxi driver resorted to dealing cannabis after breakdown of arranged marriage
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... g-31987912
Former taxi driver Muhammad Ali, 42, had lived a law-abiding life until his marriage broke down
A former Jesmond taxi driver turned to selling cannabis to feed his own habit after the breakdown of his arranged marriage. Muhammad Ali had lived a law-abiding life until his marriage broke down and he became estranged from his wife and children.
The 42-year-old then turned to drugs, but soon began selling cannabis under the direction of others in order to feed his own habit. In 2022, he was found in a car by police with co-defendant Yasir Malik after being pulled over. A haul of drugs were found in the vehicle.
On Thursday, Ali, of Clayton Road, Jesmond, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for supplying cannabis. He pleaded guilty on the basis he only supplied cannabis under the direction of others. His co-accused, Malik, of Bainford Avenue, Denton Burn, also appeared to be sentenced for possession of a class A drug and possession of a class B drug with intent to supply. He was also charged with further counts of possession of cocaine and cannabis, dating from 2024. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.
The court heard that on September 11, 2022, the duo were pulled over by police on Osborne Road in Jesmond. James Yearsley, prosecuting, said: "The vehicle was searched and £550 cash was found, along with 31 bags of cannabis and a bag of brown powder. Both men were arrested."
The court heard that cannabis with a street value of over £500 was found in the Toyota Yaris the pair were in and that the brown powder was later found to be heroin. Mobile phones that were seized also included messages relating to the sale of drugs.
Malik, who was driving the car at the time, had 12 previous convictions for 30 offences, some of which were drug related. Judge Robert Spragg said he had since been working well with probation and was "turning his life around". The judge deferred his sentence until January 14 next year.
Ali had two previous convictions for four offences, which were also drug related. Andrew Walker, defending, said at the age of 18, Ali was wed in an arranged marriage and had two children with his wife.
He said: "He worked as a taxi driver and in a shop and was never in trouble during all of that time. [There was then] the breakdown of the marriage - there was a complex family dynamic which caused him a great deal of distress. His mental health plummeted and he started using cannabis."
Mr Walker added: "He was drawn into a situation and was dealing £20 [deals of cannabis] here and there on behalf of someone else who would direct him." The court was told that Ali had now "put that past lifestyle behind him".
Judge Robert Spragg said that Ali had been a "law-abiding man" who admitted "selling cannabis under direction and getting paid in drugs". He sentenced him to six months prison, suspended for 18 months. He must also undertake 30 rehabilitation activity days.
https://i2-prod.chroniclelive.co.uk/art ... AliJPG.jpg
(And he looks more like a school teacher than the usual suspects. And nothing like the better known Muhammad Ali
)
