A customer adviser sacked from a Bradford shop for stealing has been jailed for transporting drugs.

Father-of-three Shakeel Ahmed, 44, began ferrying crack cocaine for cash after losing his job for stealing clothing and fabric from Bombay Stores in August, 2012, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Ahmed, of Ryan Street, West Bowling, Bradford, was yesterday imprisoned for 27 months after pleading guilty to four offences of supplying crack cocaine in May and June this year.

Prosecutor Richard Davies said Ahmed was the latest in a line of Bradford street drug dealers netted by Operation Stalebank, where undercover police officers posed as drug addicts to order wraps of Class A drugs.

Ahmed, who was unemployed after he was sacked from Bombay Stores, drove to the Job Centre in Manningham Lane, Bradford, and nearby Valley Parade, to deliver crack cocaine into the hands of the undercover officers.

Mr Davies said he was part of the “Saj” line that was a prompt and prolific drugs delivery service operating across the city.

The court heard in mitigation that Ahmed was very sorry, that he was a family man who regretted his foolish actions, had no experience of custody and had learned a salutary lesson.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said Ahmed, who came to the UK in 2001, led a crime-free life until he stole from Bombay Stores.

He lost his job and was sentenced to a community order by Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court in March.

Ahmed, who was not himself a drug user, began dealing for money and played a very real part in what was going on, the court heard.

“It was a quick, speedy and professional drugs supply line,” Judge Thomas said.

Up to 40 more drugs suppliers caught by Operation Stalebank are due to be sentenced at Bradford Crown Court in the run-up to Christmas.