A BUSINESSMAN who used a flat in a quiet street as a base for peddling tens of thousands of pounds worth of cocaine - has been sentenced to five and a half years in jail.
Viqaas Qureshi, admitted selling class A drugs from the rented the home in Hermitage Walk, South Woodford, after police found a stash of cocaine worth £54,000 and £30,000 in cash during a raid on the property in July.
Mr Qureshi, a former banker who is also believed to have formerly owned a takeaway in South Woodford High Road, was found at the house at the time of the operation - during which officers seized nearly a kilo of the drug.
The 29-year-old - of St Bernard's Road, Upton Park - was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court to one count of possessing a class A drug with intent to supply and one count of possessing criminal property.
A third charge of possessing a controlled drug of class B with intent to supply was ordered to lie on file in the public interest.
The judge ordered the destruction of the cocaine and set a confiscation hearing at the court on April 16 2010.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here