A BLIND Bradford man has been jailed for 21 years after he was described as the “mastermind”of two plots to supply Class A drugs in West Yorkshire.

University graduate Rizwan Arshad also played a part in a third conspiracy in the Burnley area.

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday in spite of his disability he was the leader who ran the operation involving the distribution of heroin and cocaine and massive amounts of cutting agents in the Bradford and Huddersfield area, the first in 2012 and the second while on bail last year.

He was one of six men jailed by Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC for their parts in the “sophisticated and planned enterprise.”

He told Arshad, 33, of Lower Rushton Road, Thornbury, that his barrister had asked for a discount because of the difficulties he will face in prison through his blindness.

“That has not prevented you in the past committing offences of deception, it has not prevented you achieving degree status at university and it did not prevent your role in these conspiracies.

“It is an indication of your sheer intelligence being at the heart of the essence of these matters.”

When arrested and bailed, the judge noted he had simply carried on again.

“It may be incredible to the observer that someone of your undoubted disability was managing to run and managing to co-ordinate and fulfil the needs of such a conspiracy,” said Judge Durham Hall.

The court heard Arshad was active in the first case between January and October 2012 ending with the seizure of kilogrammes of cutting agents including caffeine, Paracetamol and benzocaine.

Police observations showed Arshad had a BMW car through the Motability scheme and would rely on other drivers “and lieutenants” to help him with his activities.

Andrew Kershaw prosecuting in the first conspiracy told the court Arshad’s lifestyle did not appear consistent with living on disability benefits.

His movements suggested he had a second home in Salford Quays, he made at least one trip to Dubai via Brussels and another to Amsterdam that year while also enjoying a holiday with his wife in Mauritius. He was seen in shopping centres such as the Victoria Quarter in Leeds and Meadowhall, Sheffield.

On July 7, 2012 Arshad was stopped in a taxi in Bradford city centre and £108,000 in bundles of notes was recovered which were more than usually contaminated with heroin and cocaine. He was bailed but continued in his illegal activities.

David Hall prosecuting the second conspiracy said that did not stop Arshad who was again bailed. Covert observations were kept on him from June 2013 and revealed the further movement of drugs and cutting agents in Bradford, Huddersfield and Wakefield.

The surveillance revealed meetings between Arshad his “lieutenant” Aftab Basharat and others such as Matthew Francois whom the judge said was “heading up the Huddersfield side of the operation.”

Another contact was Lithuanian Ramunas Venckus who was twice stopped by armed police and found with cash or drugs.

At the end of the second conspiracy when arrests were again made cocaine worth £264,000, £50,000 of heroin and 33 kilos of bulking agents were seized.

Arshad, was found guilty by a jury at Bradford Crown Court of one conspiracy to supply class A drugs and pleaded guilty to two others.

Basharat, 25, of Derby Road, Thornbury, who admitted two charges of conspiracy was jailed for eight years. Francois, 36 of Benny Park Close, Batley, admitted one charge of conspiracy and was jailed for ten years.

Venckus, 43, of Watling Street, Dartford, Kent ,who pleaded guilty and was said by the judge to be linked to the incoming drug supply source, was jailed for five years.