Cases heard at Worcester Crown Court this week

Drug conspirator jailed

A drug conspirator who sold drugs to undercover officers is behind bars- but the 'vulnerable' addict who also supplied was given a chance as he battles to turn his life around.

Akhmal Shabaan, 25, described as playing a 'managerial role', was jailed for two years and eight months at Worcester Crown Court on Monday after he admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

His co-defendant, Nicky Cranham, aged 42, of Barbourne Road, Worcester admitted supplying class A drugs (two wraps of crack cocaine) to undercover police officers he believed to be drug users after buying them from dealers.

Cranham appeared in court with his outreach worker from the city's Maggs Day Centre who has worked with him for the last two years.

Shahbaan of Horatio Drive, Birmingham supplied two wraps of heroin and one wrap of crack cocaine to undercover officers on September 26, 2017.

Two further wraps of heroin and one of crack cocaine were supplied the following day. The defendant's phone was later found to contain more than 5,500 contacts. A search warrant at his address was conducted on November 27, 2018 and a phone and SIM cards were recovered as well as digital weighing scales and empty deal bags. He was involved in the Leominster conspiracy for around two months.

Mr Jones said Shahbaan had 'a very significant role' and was 'in effect in control of the Leominster end of the operation' and it was an aggravating feature that he had used a flat there for cuckooing.

Shahbaan answered 'no comment' to questions by police. Nicky Cranham met an undercover officer on October 12, 2017 where they talked about where he bought his drugs. On October 21, 2017 undercover officers met him again and told them if they went to an address in Etnam Street he could source them some drugs, selling them to officers. He gave a no comment interview to police.

Nicholas Berry, for Cranham, described his client as having a 'somewhat chaotic lifestyle' and as being 'highly vulnerable' with 'unenviable and unattractive' previous convictions.

However, he said Cranham, who had suffered a brain injury, had made significant progress over the last few months with the support of an outreach worker who had worked to get him accommodation. He was engaging with drug and alcohol support services and was scripted for methadone.

"To his credit he is trying" said Mr Berry.

Judge James Burbidge QC jailed Shahbaan, telling him: "You were quite central to this particular drug line, quite central to this cuckooing conspiracy."

The judge sentenced Cranham to an 18 month community order to include six months of alcohol treatment and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Man sucker punched police officer

Drunken reveller Dennis Trevis suffered a 'head injury' after being thrown out of The Flag in Lowesmoor in Worcester. Trevis told police he had been assaulted by door staff before punching the officer who offered to help him get home or to a hospital.

The 45-year-old admitted assaulting an emergency worker but was spared jail at Worcester Crown Court on Friday after punching PC Andrew Wood in the face on November 23 last year, catching him 'off guard'.

PC Wood had asked Trevis if he wanted to be taken to hospital or home but the defendant refused, asking what was going to happen about the assault he had suffered. Shannon O'Connor, prosecuting, said Trevis accused the officer of 'smirking at him' which was not the case.

As the officer turned to see if anyone was 'smirking' at the defendant, Trevis punched him in the jaw which caused 'bleeding from his mouth', 'significant pain and swelling', a broken tooth and a strained neck. He was later diagnosed with a concussion and nerve damage to his teeth. The PC has required dental treatment including root canals and pain medication.

He has also had to attend his doctor’s surgery and the hospital and still requires further treatment, costing up to £3,500 of dental work.

He has been told he will still be likely to lose two of his teeth because of damage to the nerves and has suffered mouth ulcers.

The officer said in a victim personal statement he was glad other officers were present to assist him and ‘stop further injury’.

“I feel more on edge when I deal with people drinking” he said.

He revealed he had been assaulted before but in terms of his injuries this was ‘a massive escalation’.

Sam Lamsdale, defending, said the offence was out of character and that Trevis was not used to drinking and 'quickly became inebriated and has virtually no recollection of this incident'.

"He recalls enjoying himself and singing. It's perhaps for that the door staff - he's a largely built man - decided he should not be dancing around and asked him to leave.

"There was a further difference of opinion with the doorman and he's thrown to the floor and cut the back of his head open," she said.

Mrs Lamsdale said and the defendant, a laser operator, had an 83-year-old mother who had advanced dementia and had suffered falls which had meant she had been taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Judge James Burbidge QC said it was 'disheartening' to see a man of Trevis' s age with only one previous conviction before a court. He said it had been the defendant's misunderstanding of an officer who 'had tried to help you' and was 'acting nothing but professionally'.

The judge sentenced Trevis of Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, to six months in prison suspended for 18 months and placed him on an electronically monitored curfew for three months between 7pm and 5am.

He ordered him to pay £3,000 compensation to the officer.