A dad who turned his life around is back in prison after being caught with cocaine twice in just over a month
Stoke-on-Trent: So, there’s this guy, Azahar Bukhari, who was trying to turn his life around. He had been doing well for about four years, even had a kid with his new partner. But then, bam! He got caught with cocaine not once, but twice in just 42 days.
The first time, he was driving an Audi A5 in Cobridge when the police pulled him over. They found some cocaine, cash, and his phone. A search of his home turned up even more cash. A month later, he was in an Audi A3 near Hanley Bus Station, and guess what? More cocaine and a phone. This time, he got hit with a drug-driving charge.
His lawyer, Balbir Singh, explained that things were tough for Bukhari back then. His relationship had fallen apart, and he was living with his cousin. He started hanging out with the wrong crowd, drinking, and using drugs, which led him to a bad place with a drug debt he couldn’t pay.
But here’s the twist: since getting out of prison for drug-driving, Bukhari has really turned things around. He’s been staying out of trouble, got off drugs, and is now a dad to an 18-month-old. His lawyer argued that sending him back to prison could lead him to meet the wrong people again, which would hurt not just him but his family too.
Judge Graeme Smith acknowledged Bukhari’s ups and downs, noting that he’s not a habitual criminal. His past offenses were tied to a tough time in his life, and he’s shown he can change. It’s a real rollercoaster story, and it’s sad to see him back in this situation.
