COCAINE was sold to children as young as 12 at an off-licence that was a front for drug dealing, a court heard.

One boy told a jury he had developed an addiction to the drug from Wendy's Off-Licence, Brecon Road, Whitebirk, Blackburn.

He said he paid £40 a gram and received the drug over the counter. The boy said he knew up to 30 other people who were regular customers.

The off-licence is alleged to have been running as a drugs business for at least four years.

Prosecuting, Jeremy Grout-Smith said: "This shop didn't have the appearance of an ordinary shop. It was extremely scruffy and ill kept. It didn't appear to be well stocked with the ordinary products of an off-licence.

"In reality this shop was a front for a drug dealing."

Preston Crown Court was told that police discovered the sideline operation at Wendy's when the teenage customer was attacked in a dispute stemming from money lending.

When officers went to the premises they were met by the sight of wraps of cocaine being thrown from an upstairs window as those inside tried to hide their dealings, the court heard.

The prosecution said 24-year-old Asar Khan was seen as a 'gangster' who ran the poorly-stocked shop to disguise his true money making business of selling Class A drugs.

Khan, of July Street, Blackburn, is standing trial after pleading not guilty to wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, being concerned with the supply of class a drugs and possession of cocaine with the intent to supply.

The jury were told his brother Faisal Khan, 19, of July Street, Blackburn, had pleaded guilty to being concerned with the supply of class a drugs and possession of class a drugs with intent to supply.

Aleem Khan, 20, of Lambethy Street, Blackburn pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with the intent to supply.

The boy said he started buy the drugs aged 12. He is now 16.

In a police interview played to the court, the boy, he said: "Asar was the main dealer. He sold it for £40 a gram. He's a gangster. He goes and thinks he owns the place.”

Mr Grout-Smith said that following a row with his parents in May, the boy took a laptop bought by his mother and used it as collateral to get a £100 loan from Faisal Khan.

Over the next few weeks he paid the loan back, with interest, but the Khans refused to return the laptop, Mr Grout-Smith said.

The boy's father was then arrested for getting into a disagreement with Faisal Khan and cutting his head with a kitchen knife, the jury was told.

On June 4 the teenager had been drinking cider at a friend's house and had gone for some fresh air when he saw Asar Khan stood on a street corner.

Mr Grout-Smith said: "He was suddenly attacked from behind and was punched about the head. During this attack he saw something that looked metallic flashing in the light. He (Khan) must have had some form of weapon."

The boy collapsed a short time later and was taken to hospital. He told police his attacker was Asar Khan and told them about the drug dealing business being run from the shop.

Officers executed a search warrant on June 4 and the court heard Aleem Khan was seen hurling packets of white powder from the window.

Mr Grout-Smith said: "Police found a quantity of cocaine and cannabis and all the paraphernalia you would expect from a drug dealing operation."

Faisal Khan was found to have £1,000 in his pockets and more cash was found in an upstairs bedroom, Mr Grout-Smith said.

CCTV footage was also discovered showing men and women coming into the shop, handing over cash and being given small packets in return, which were quickly concealed.

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