A CITY centre newsagent has denied charges of supplying and possessing with intent legal high drugs.

Pervez Abbas, 63, replied in a firm voice: "Not guilty, sir," when the two charges were put to him at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

Abbas, who owns the Barkers shop in Sunbridge Road, Bradford, clasped his hands in front of him during the brief plea and case management hearing.

He faced charges of possessing with intent, on March 8 this year, a quantity of a drug which was controlled by temporary drug classification. The second charge alleged he supplied the drug between March 8 and May 10 this year. In both cases the drug involved was 1-(benzofuran-5-YL)propan-2-amine - a legal high.

Wearing a grey suit and colourful spotted tie, Abbas listened carefully to the proceedings as prosecutor David Lampitt said a date had been fixed next April for a trial expected to last seven days.

Abbas's barrister, Michael Greenhalgh, said it was unlikely a drugs expert would be called to give evidence for the defence. He said there would be a statement in the form of a "streamlined forensic drugs report."

Mr Greenhalgh said a defence case statement would be served within 28 days. He said the issues, according to his client, were that his supplier stated that all items were legal.

Mr Greenhalgh added: "The items come to Mr Abbas, who owns a shop, they provide documentation saying there is nothing chemically illegal."

The trial will take place on April 13.

Judge Peter Benson granted Abbas, of Oaklands, Idle, unconditional bail until his trial.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Barkers newsagents

The judge told the defendant: "Your trial will take place on April 13 next year, when you must attend or you will be in breach of your bail and you could be locked up and your trial go ahead in your absence."

* A High Court order was made in October, preventing the shop from selling legal highs or storing them on the premises.

The Order was part of a multi-agency campaign, led by West Yorkshire Police, called Operation Nightshot, targeting the largely unregulated market in new psychoactive substances, which are manufactured as chemical substitutes for illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy. The project has been praised in Parliament and by the Home Affairs Select Committee.

Barker's shop manager, Zaheer Abbas, said at the time: "From day one, and in the future, Barkers has never sold anything illegal."

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