A West Yorkshire drug dealer who blamed his crimes on a crippling gambling addiction has failed in a Court of Appeal challenge to his sentence.

Mohammed Lunat, 29, of Purlwell Hall Road, Batley, was jailed for six years in February for his involvement with £135,000 worth of drugs.

But in an appeal today, he said he had only become involved with drug dealers because of his gambling problem.

He had previously been law-abiding and had funded his problem with his wages.

However, he lost his job at a bank, started to lose and quickly built up a substantial debt.

He turned to payday lenders and then – in a move which would prove to be his downfall – to a moneylender ‘with a reputation’.

Lunat said the man had loaned him £9,000, but had begun to put pressure on him.

His car was taken and he was forced to store large quantities of drugs, including cocaine, heroin and cannabis, at his home.

On one occasion, when he failed to obey instructions, he was beaten, he said.

When police raided his home, they found a drug warehousing operation in place.

There were almost two kilos of heroin and cocaine and the total street value of the drugs was put by prosecutors at £135,000.

Lunat admitted three counts each of having Class A and B drugs with intent to supply and jailed at Leeds Crown Court.

His lawyers today argued that the mitigation of the way that he had fallen into crime justified a shorter sentence.

The mitigation was so central to the case that it should have resulted in him being placed in a lower sentencing category.

Giving judgment, Mr Justice Foskett, Lord Justice Fulford and Judge Peter Rook QC rejected the complaints.

“The recorder correctly categorised this case, given the quantity of drugs Lunat had,” said Mr Justice Foskett.

“On any approach, he played a significant part, whether truly willing or not, in the supply of cocaine and heroin.

“Whatever positive things may be said about him, we don’t see how the sentence can be characterised as manifestly excessive.

“For these reasons, the appeal is dismissed.”