A prolific drug dealing dad-of-five who was caught with more than £100,000 worth of crack cocaine and cocaine just weeks after being released from prison has been put behind bars again.

Abid Ashraf was jailed for 40 months in 2020 after police caught him peddling heroin, cocaine and cannabis on the streets of Nelson.

He was released in 2021, but earlier this week, Ashraf, of Barkerhouse Road in Nelson, was jailed again after officers raided his house last December and found £85,500 worth of cocaine and £15,000 worth of crack cocaine, along with cutting agents and other drug paraphernalia.

Burnley Crown Court heard the 44-year-old claimed he is a full-time carer for his disabled mother despite only being released from prison in summer last year and then being remanded into custody again in December.

He has eight convictions for 18 offences, all of which are related to drugs.

Prosecuting, Alison Mather said police attended a property in Rhoda Street, Nelson, acting on information received about a vulnerable person in the house being forced to sell drugs.

She said: “The defendant was named as the person responsible and was reported to have entered the address not long before the police arrived, carrying a package containing drugs.

“Police knocked on the door and another man answered before uttering the words, ‘oh f**k’ and trying to close the door on the officers.

“However, they managed to enter the property and discovered Ashraf in the house surrounded by drugs and other paraphernalia on a coffee table.

“Individual wraps were found, phones, as well as blades which were being used to cut up white powder, together with weighing scales.”

The court was told Ashraf refused to engage with the police and was obstructive while being detained.

His Barkerhouse Road home was then searched and in the bedroom officers found multiple plastic containers and packages containing white powder.

Ms Mather went on: “Analysis was carried out with the powder testing positive for cocaine and crack cocaine of varying purities. Cutting agent was also discovered.”

In total, 985g of cocaine worth £78,800 was found in 0.5g street deals worth £40 each, along with a further 72.1g of cocaine worth £6,400.

The recovered crack cocaine was estimated to be worth around £15,000.

Ashraf was jailed for 50 months in 2016 for cannabis offences, then in January 2020 for 40 months in relation to heroin, crack and cannabis dealing.

His licence period for the most recent offence was due to end in May 2023, meaning the 44-year-old was in breach of that licence during the commission of these 2021 crimes.

Offering mitigation, Constance Halliwell said Ashraf only became involved with the dealing to feed his own habit.

She said he has five children who do not live with him but whom he sees every day and is a full-time carer for his disabled mother.

Sentencing Ashraf, Recorder Philip Grundy said: “Anyone who sits in criminal courts in this country is aware of the effects of drugs, in particular class A drugs, on the lives of people, many of whom are addicted to them.

“Drugs are at the root of other crimes and destroy lives – they are a blight on society.

“This involvement in peddling drugs must be punished appropriately and severely.

"You have an appalling record and had only recently been released from a 40-month sentence for drugs and yet a matter of weeks later you were back again peddling drugs.”

Ashraf was jailed for six years and will be on licence once again when he is released.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be scheduled for next year.