A CONVICTED drug dealer was caught with cocaine and crack when he was on dayrelease from an open jail.

Asim Hussain, 33, who was nearing the end of an 11-year sentence, travelled by train to West Yorkshire with friend Anthony Briddick to collect packages while he was allowed home from Kirklevington Prison, Yarm, near Stockton.

Days later, police raided two houses in Middlesbrough and found almost £14,000 worth of Class A drugs the pair were planning to pass on to other dealers.

Hussain recruited 22-year-old Briddick to do most of his dirty work because he was unable to fully look after the business from behind bars.

When he was questioned, Hussain told police that he had been forced into the trade again by people to whom he owed money from his arrest in 2005 for trafficking. He said he had been bundled into a car, assaulted, threatened and had a gun held to his head before he reluctantly agreed to deal to help clear his £26,000 debt.

Hussain, of Meath Street, Middlesbrough, was jailed for six years at Teesside Crown Court and Briddick, of Granville Road, also Middlesbrough, received four years.

The court heard that police raided a house in Errol Street on May 18 this year and caught the pair red-handed with £10,000 worth of crack cocaine packaged in varying amounts.

More than £3,000 worth of crack and cocaine was discovered when Hussain’s release address in Meath Street was searched, said Robin Turton prosecuting.

Graham Silvester, mitigating for Hussain, said: “There is a difference between someone who reverts to type and his position where he is put under pressure to return to his former lifestyle.”

Rachel Dyson, for Briddick, said: “He bitterly regrets his decision to become involved.”

Hussain admitted two charges of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply – cocaine and crack – and Briddick pleaded guilty to one charge concerning the crack.

Judge Tony Briggs said Hussain’s involvement in the supply of Class A drugs while he was on day-release from jail was an aggravating feature.

He said Briddick had got involved in the operation with his eyes open and “with the hope of making some ready money fairly rapidly”.