A TEENAGER released by police after he was arrested for dealing drugs was caught again with cocaine and cannabis just weeks later.

Hamza Hussein was first spotted by officers driving a BMW on December 11, 2019.

As Hussein, then aged 19, got out of the car and walked towards a house in Sevenoaks Drive, Great Lever, police stopped him.

Colin Buckle, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court how Hussein initially lied, giving a false name and when officers opened the car door they could smell cannabis.

“It was at that stage the defendant was handcuffed and the car was subject of a search,” said Mr Buckle.

Inside the vehicle police found scales, snap bags, three mobile phones, £600 worth of cocaine and £300 of cannabis.

Hussein was found to have no driving licence or insurance and, when search, two more mobile phones were found on him.

“The phones revealed messages associated to drug dealing,” said Mr Buckle.

“There were two marketing messages advertising both cocaine and cannabis. Further messages were recovered and were unquestionably persons looking to purchase drugs.”

Hussein, of Cotton Lodge Close, Great Lever, was released under investigation but, at 7.30am on March 11 last year when police raided his home they found he had resumed dealing.

“They asked whether they were going to find drugs and the defendant said they would and, in fact, the defendant showed them where to find them,” said Mr Buckle.

In Hussein’s bedroom was a bag containing white powder, mobile phones SIM cards. In a coat pocket was the key to a Vauxhall car parked outside and scales and further drugs were found. The cocaine was said to be worth £1,625 and the cannabis £110.

“It’s pretty much impossible to think he would be motivated by anything other than financial advantage,” commented Judge Timothy Stead.

“He was caught, he was stripped of what he needed to do the business and he plainly started again.”

Hussein pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply

Daniel Lister, defending stressed that 20-year-old Hussein is of previous good character and comes from a decent family. He asked the judge to take the unusual step of not jailing Hussein immediately.

The case was adjourned until May 20 for further investigation into Hussein’s background.