Heroin and crack-cocaine sold to undercover police officers in Highfields, Leicester

A drug dealer who sold heroin and crack-cocaine to undercover police officers has been jailed for five years and seven months.

Abdi Osman (25) was caught in a police sting called Operation Saffron, aimed at clamping down on drug crime in the city centre.

Osman pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying heroin in Highfields, Leicester, in May.

He also admitted four counts of supplying crack-cocaine in July. Each of the street deals handed to officers was worth £15 to £20, said Alan Murphy, prosecuting.

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Leicester Crown Court was told that Osman, of Maidstone Road, Highfields, had two previous convictions for drug dealing.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Pert QC said: "Class A drugs cause a lot of crime in this country.

"They cause misery and degradation and this has to be dealt with severely by the court."

In mitigation, Osman, a Somalian national, was said to have been dealing to fund his own drug addiction. His use increased after his father was killed in Somalia, the court was told.

Donal Lawler, mitigating, said Osman's partner was expecting their third child. Due to his "immigration control" status in the UK, he was not legitimately allowed to work.