A former security guard caught ferrying half a kilo of heroin across Bradford in a taxi has been jailed for two years and four months.

Father-of-three Mohammed Kabir was brought from prison to be sentenced at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

Kabir, 33, of Durley Avenue, Heaton, Bradford, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply on January 4.

The court heard police stopped the taxi he was a passenger in on Canal Road in Bradford after Kabir collected a black sealed package from a blue Mercedes van on Somerville Road, Great Horton.

He was on his way to Peel Park in the city when he was arrested and the drugs seized.

On the journey, Kabir asked the taxi driver if they were being followed by the police.

Prosecutor Tom Storey said the heroin had a street value of almost £25,000.

Ian Howard, Kabir’s barrister, said his client thought he was transporting cannabis to the park.

“He performed a very limited function, under direction, and there was pressure and coercion,” Mr Howard said.

Kabir was only involved as a courier on the day to pay off a drug debt, the court heard.

He had gained qualifications on remand in jail and was industrious and motivated to keep out of trouble in the future, it was said.

Khan had never been in trouble before for drug dealing, and his wife, who came to the UK for an arranged marriage to him, was very dependant on him, the court heard.

He worked as a security guard until three years ago and began taking drugs when he gave in to peer pressure.

Judge David Hatton QC told Kabir: “You engaged in the transportation of a significant quantity of heroin by taxi to Peel Park.”

The judge accepted that Kabir was not a key player in the drugs world. He was carrying out a one-off instruction to wipe out a drug debt.