Published: Wednesday, 1st October, 2008 8:00am

Dad turned to heroin to ease back pain

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A man who used a stash of heroin to 'cure his back pain' has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Shaid Khan was sentenced for possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, possession of class A drugs, and handling stolen goods.

The court heard how 36-year-old Khan, who worked as a volunteer at Slough Rugby Club, started using the lethal drug because his legal medication was not helping him. Daniel Stepehenson, defending, said: "He had very severe back pain and that caused him a lot of pain.

"The drugs he was receiving were simply not having any effect and he was frustrated at not be able to help at rugby," he told a judge at Reading Crown Court on Friday.

"He turned to cannabis but did not realise it was laced with heroin and it was the heroin that was having the most effect on relieving his pain."

The judge heard how when Mr Khan, who has a four-year-old son, was arrested on October 3, 2007, a large quantity of heroin was found at his home in Uxbridge Road, Slough, He claimed it was for his own personal use.

"He bought a large amount of the drug for his own personal use. He was using a gram of heroin a day to ease the pain," said Mr Stephenson.

Khan, who was jailed for four years in March 2000 for supplying cocaine, was also sentenced on Friday for handling a stolen laptop and palm computer which he bought for £80.

Despite receiving three character references describing his volunteer work at the rugby club, Deputy Circuit Judge Stanley Spence imposed a strict 30-month sentence on Khan.

"Your offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be passed," he said. "The sentence that I impose is that of two-and-a-half years for possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply. For simple possession give a sentence of 15 months imprisonment and that is concurrent. For handling stolen goods I give you six months which is also concurrent."

An order was also made for the drugs found at Khan's house to be destroyed.