‘Street dealer’ took part in town centre riot after selling crack and heroin in park

Zakaria Sadiq, 22, was arrested by police on Heywood Park in Great Lever on December 1, 2023 after officers had received reports about drug dealers on the park.

Nearly two years on, Bolton Crown Court heard how Sadiq was searched and found with wraps of heroin, crack, around £220 in cash and a black smart phone.

Prosecutor Thomas Horsfall said: “Officers arrested the defendant, and he replied with words to the effect of ‘you’ve got the wrong guy, I work for someone else’.”

Sadiq was found with a total of 19 wraps of heroin and 17 wraps of crack cocaine and Mr Horsfall said officers noticed several suspected drug users “loitering in the area”.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss)

The 22-year-old was arrested and, after first pleading not guilty, contacted his solicitors to say he wanted to change his plea to guilty “within 24 hours”.

He eventually confessed to possession with intent to supply heroin and possession with intent to supply crack cocaine.

Mr Horsfall said Sadiq had two previous convictions for three offences.

But this now included his involvement in the violent scenes that gripped Bolton in the wake of the tragic Southport killings in August last year.

Sadiq was jailed for 30 months for violent disorder for his part in the disturbances in September last year and was brought back to court this month to answer for his drug dealing.

Mark Friend, defending, said there “doesn’t seem to be any reason why this matter could not have been dealt with” back in September 2024.

But he said Sadiq, of Pole Street, Tonge Moor, had earned credit for deciding to change his plea for the drug offences to guilty “within 24 hours”.

Mr Friend reminded the court that Sadiq had been just 20 years old at the time and said that he had had a “troubled upbringing”.

Judge Jon Close said that Sadiq was “quite simply, street dealing” and said it was “utterly inexplicable” that he had not already been charged for it when he was sentenced last September.

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But he said that Sadiq appeared to regard drug dealing as “his job” and reminded him of the devastation that such crimes cause.

Judge Close said: “These drugs are a poison, they are a cancer on society, they destroy lives, they destroy families, they undermine and poison the very bedrock of society.”

He added: “What you thought of as a job was simply the distribution of misery.”

Judge Close jailed Sadiq for two years and five months.

Before going down to the cells, Sadiq asked: “Can I say something?” He was told he would have to speak to his barrister.

Source – INDIA TV