February 27, 2001 9:27: TWO men have been jailed for supplying heroin at an amusement arcade in High Wycombe following an undercover police sting.

Neelon John, 25, of Hughenden Road, High Wycombe, and Sheraz Yaqub, 20, of Ladybank Close, High Wycombe, supplied police officers with heroin and cocaine at the Funland Amusement Arcade in Bridge Street, High Wycombe, Aylesbury Crown Court heard on Thursday.

John pleaded guilty to supplying heroin on July 21, and July 25, last year and to possession of cocaine on August 30. He had previous convictions involving drugs in the USA and was deported in 1998.

Yaqub and a third man involved, Sajid Khan, 19, of Spearing Road, High Wycombe, had both been committed for sentence by Wycombe magistrates. Yaqub also admitted four counts of supplying diamorphine (heroin) and one of supplying cocaine to undercover police. Khan admitted a charge of possessing a small amount of cannabis.

Both admitted a joint charge of offering to supply cocaine.

Prosecutor Paul Reid said two undercover officers, known as 'Ian' and 'Pelham', were in the Funland Amusement Arcade, now called Bridge Street Amusements, on July 13, last year when Yaqub approached them and asked what they wanted.

They then went outside and 'Ian' handed over £40 for 168 milligrammes of diamorphine and the following day paid another £40 for 342 milligrammes. On July 19, one of the undercover officers paid Yaqub £50 for 424 milligrammes of heroin and 242 milligrammes of cocaine.

Mr Reid said on July 21, 'Ian' was taken by Yaqub to a car park in Desborough Street where, in the back of a car, John weighed out 13.7 grammes of heroin and was paid £550. Four days later, in Bridge Street, 'Ian' handed over £555 for 12.2 grammes of heroin to John.

Police finally swooped on August 1, in the Lane End area after 'Ian' paid Yaqub and Khan £900 for 31 grammes of heroin and both men were arrested.

But an analysis of the final deal revealed it did not contain any controlled drug and Yaqub admitted his intention had been to rip off the officers, Mr Reid told the court.

John was arrested on August 30, and eight rocks of cocaine, which he said were for personal use, were found hidden in one of his socks.

Barristers for Yaqub and John told the court they had bad drug habits at the time and got involved in street dealing to feed their addictions.

Khan's lawyer Peter Ross said Khan had simply been with Yaqub to back him up in the ploy to rip off police.

Judge Daniel Rodwell told John and Yaqub: "The area in which you were dealing was an amusement arcade which naturally attracts young people and that is a very aggravating feature."

John was jailed for five years for supplying heroin and 12 months concurrent for possessing cocaine. Yaqub was sentenced to four years in a young offenders institution for supplying heroin and 12 months concurrent for offering to supply heroin.

Khan was given a 220 hours community service order and ordered to pay £300 towards prosecution costs.

After the case, Steven Davies, manager at Bridge Street Amusements since July, said: "I do not tolerate drugs in here whatsoever. If I catch anyone with drugs they are chucked out."

Joe Slade