Depressed Sheffield man who stored drugs in his house was struggling with the breakdown of his marriage

Police visited Haroon Hanif's home on June 20, 2019, after receiving a domestic complaint, but no further action was taken, prosecutor Samuel Ponniah said on Wednesday.

Officers found 2.95 kilograms of the drug in boxes and bags, which was valued at £18,000 to £29,000 depending on how it was sold.

Hanif claimed the drugs were all for his personal use, but he later admitted he had been asked to store them and was being paid with free cannabis.

Ayman Khok, mitigating, said Hanif's marriage had broken down in late 2018 and he was living alone.

"He increased the amount of cannabis he smoked to cope and, while vulnerable, agreed to store the drug," he said. "There was no evidence that he was involved in the sale of drugs.

"He didn't sell it or bag it, but he lied in the police interview because he feared repercussions.

"He has been under considerable anxiety since his arrest and he has committed no further offences since then."

The court heard the warehouse operative is now reconciled with his wife, but suffered from depression at the time.

Hanif, 38, of Ferrars Road, Tinsley, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to supplying the Class B drug, on a basis, on December 7.

Judge Peter Kelson QC told him he was “at most a custodian” and didn’t plan to profit from it.

He imposed a 12-month community order, with 15 rehabilitation days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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