A man blamed for introducing crack cocaine into Skipton bought the drug from a Bradford supplier, a Court heard.

Aklu Miah, of Bradford Road, Keighley, would drive to a garage in the Toller Lane area of the city in the early hours where he would collect the drugs, said witness Karen Syers.

Miss Syers, a former girlfriend of Miah, 23, was giving evidence on the second day of a 12-day trial at Doncaster Crown Court.

Aklu Miah is accused along with Babru Miah and Fojlu Miah, both of Keighley, and Jane Thomas, now of Manchester, with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine.

All four deny the charge.

Miss Syers told the jury how she first met Aklu Miah at her home in Cumberland Street, Keighley, at the beginning of 1998 and soon after became his girlfriend.

Barrister Miss Felicity Davies, prosecuting, asked former heroin addict Miss Syers if she was given drugs by Aklu.

Miss Syers said she would take drugs from her then boyfriend as a "lay-off" which meant she would pay for them later.

When she moved to a new address in Russell Street, Skipton, in May 1998, Aklu asked her to deal heroin and crack cocaine for him to pay the debt she had amassed.

She told the court how the Miahs' drug business soon began to boom as word of their cheap prices and good deals spread across Skipton.

She said: "Because the drugs were a lot cheaper than anywhere else in Skipton, the amount he (Aklu) was selling went up and up."

Jonathan Rose, defending, accused Miss Syers of being a dealer herself and using Aklu Miah as an alibi.

He referred to Miss Syers' arrest on September 3, 1998, and subsequent prosecution for drug dealing.

Mr Rose said: "You are the drug dealer. You are a dishonest woman, a thief and a liar."

He told the court Miss Syers had previous convictions before meeting Miah for theft, handling stolen goods and dealing heroin.

Miss Syers agreed she had had convictions, but said she was addicted to heroin at the time.

Mr Rose put it to Miss Syers that while she was going out with Aklu Miah he had twice helped her pay drug debts totalling £850 to other dealers, which she denied.

The trial continues.

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