Police officers found over three quarters of a kilogramme of cannabis at the rooms of a masters degree student after finding him with cannabis in the car park at Huddersfield railway station.

Brian Outhwaite prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court an evening football match was taking place in the town on December 15 last year and officers were monitoring people in the area.

They became suspicious about the actions of Samir Douaoui and another man Lukman Najeeb in the car park and when they searched them Douaoui was found to have 14.96 grammes of cannabis on him while Najeeb had 19.13 grammes in four separate bags.

A search was done at their home addresses. No drugs were found at Najeeb’s, who had previous convictions for drug offences, but in Douaoui’s rooms in Kings Mill Lane, two blocks of cannabis resin were discovered as well as eight small bags, altogether totalling 871.3 grammes.

Mohammed Nawaz representing Douaoui said his case was an example of an intelligent man making stupid decisions.

He was from Gibraltar and had moved to Yorkshire in 2009 to do a business management degree. He had completed that and embarked on a Masters degree which he also finished before returning to Gibraltar.

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Life was looking good for him when he became engaged but that broke down and he decided to return to the UK and further improve his qualifications. He then began a second Masters degree in business and finance.

Having dabbled in cannabis at a younger age he began using more regularly last year trying to cope with his broken engagement and debts of around £7,000. He then decided to buy in bulk rather than having to return repeatedly to his dealer and that led to them intending to take some to a party where he and Najeeb were intending to go.

His remorse following his arrest was genuine and he told a probation officer “it had ruined his life.”

Ben Campbell for Najeeb said he had a serious eczema condition and had used cannabis in the past to help with that.

He realised he was in jeopardy because of his previous convictions for possessing cannabis with intent to supply but the amount found on him had been small as was the criminal property cash seized.

Najeeb, 27 of George Avenue, Birkby, was jailed for 16 months after he admitted possession with intent to supply and possessing criminal property.

Douaoui, 26 admitted possession with intent to supply and was given 16 months in prison suspended for two years with 300 hours unpaid work.

Recorder Richard Wright QC told Douaoui he had come very close to prison for such a significant quantity “but I am going to give you a chance.”