A 28-year-old dealer who ran his drugs business from the home of two vulnerable adults has been jailed.

Amir Mostofi, from London, operated from a flat in Tempsford Avenue, Borehamwood.

When police raided the address the flat in November 2018, they found a large quantity of cocaine, as well as cash and mobile phones.

Mostofi cuckooed the flat - this is where a drugs gang takes over the home of vulnerable adults by force or coercion and use their premises to deal drugs.

He took over the address, forcing the tenants to sleep on the sofa.

At St Albans Crown Court on July 24, Mostofi was sentenced to three years and eight months in jail.

He had previously served a three year custodial sentence for possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply. The judge said he would have sentenced him to five and a half years if he had not pleaded guilty.

Detective Constable Chris Cowell from the Operation Mantis team said: “The Hertsmere Operation Scorpion team conducted a drugs warrant in November 2018 following information from members of the public about people coming and going from the address and arrested Mostofi, who was from London. He had targeted the vulnerable tenants and was using their flat as his own and had made them sleep on the sofa. We have put measures in place to safeguard the tenants.

“Mostofi was running a drugs lines called ‘snowy’. We recovered a large quantity of cocaine which was found by the drugs dog in a bag on a set of drawers. A quantity of cash was also recovered as well as a number of mobile phones.”

He added: “We rely on members of the community to give us vital bits of information to help us protect our children and vulnerable people from these kinds of criminals, who often prey on people who lack confidence, support or family. Any information you can provide, no matter how small it may seem, could help us to protect your community.”