News / Drug dealer’s appeal dismissed
A drug dealer who was jailed after luring a Shetland couple 600 miles to Bradford for a gunpoint robbery was told on Thursday he deserves every day of his sentence.
Sajid Hussain, 26, conned Michael Irvine and Louise Cogle, from Effirth, Bixter, into taking £5,000 to Yorkshire, thinking they were going to buy a car.
But instead Hussain, of Cunliffe Villas, Manningham, Bradford, and others robbed them of their money and passports.
He was jailed for 10 years at Bradford Crown Court in January for robbery, having a gun or imitation gun and a string of drug dealing crimes.
Rejecting an appeal against the sentence today, three top judges in London said the 10 year stretch matched the seriousness of what Hussain had done.
Mrs Justice Andrews said Hussain and two accomplices were wearing balaclavas when they confronted the shocked couple in August 2013.
One of the men cocked a gun and pointed it at Mr Irvine, before taking a bag containing the cash and passports.
Hussain was caught out because he was seen in CCTV footage running from the scene of the robbery.
At the time, he was on bail, having been snared in a police operation targeting drug dealers on the streets of Bradford.
During the operation in March and April last year, he was seen acting as a driver, dealing in drugs and taking cash.
He was regarded by police as having played an “integral” role in the dealing.
On Thursday, lawyers for Hussain argued at London’s Court of Appeal that his total sentence was too long.
But Mrs Justice Andrews, sitting with Lady Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Holroyde, rejected the complaint.
“The role of Hussain in the drugs offences was rightly categorised as significant,” she said.
“Making the sentences for the drugs offences and robbery consecutive was entirely justified in the circumstances.
“The judge considered that the total of 10 years reflected all the criminality for which he had to sentence Hussain.
“We agree with that assessment. No reduction is required.”
The appeal was dismissed.
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