'Brutal' drug dealer who 'relentlessly' intimidated and bullied runner before killing him is jailed

(Greater Manchester Police)
Mohammed Faisal Ubaid, 44, was sentenced to 14 years and two months in prison for the manslaughter of John Rimmer. (Greater Manchester Police)

A drug dealer who “relentlessly” intimidated, bullied and attacked a man before killing him has been jailed.

Greater Manchester Police said John Rimmer, 54, died on 6 September two days after suffering a severe head injury, after his "battered body" was dropped outside Rochdale Infirmary.

Mohammed Faisal Ubaid, 44, was sentenced to 14 years and two months in prison at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Thursday.

Ubaid, of Denver Road, Rochdale, had earlier pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Rimmer plus an additional charge of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

(Greater Manchester Police)
CCTV footage of John Rimmer's last ever movements and encounter with Ubaid on September 3, 2019 (Greater Manchester Police)

Police said CCTV footage taken from a camera outside Ubaid's house showed him repeatedly pointing a finger at Mr Rimmer in "an angry and accusing way".

The footage showed Mr Rimmer entering Ubaid's house.

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Hours later, the man’s "unconscious and unresponsive" body was carried to a car by one of Ubaid's friends.

Ubaid was arrested on suspicion of murder on 12 September, after forensic officers found blood-stains matching Mr Rimmer’s DNA on Ubaid’s trainers.

(Greater Manchester Police)
(Greater Manchester Police)

Witnesses also told police that Rimmer had been physically attacked by Ubaid before.

It was alleged in court that Ubaid had employed Mr Rimmer to deliver class A drugs on his behalf.

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Text messages from the mobile phone of Ubaid to John Rimmer showed they were working together to sell drugs. The language and shorthand used in the text was familiar to police officers trained specifically to deal with drug offending.

But detectives worked on the theory that Ubaid believed Mr Rimmer was stealing drugs from him.

General view of Manchester Crown Court ,Minshull Street, in Manchester city centre.
Ubaid had earlier pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Rimmer at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. (PA)  

Following sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Colin Larkin of GMP's Major Incident Team, said: “Ubaid's relentless bullying and intimidation of John eventually led to his untimely death and after realising John was seriously injured he got others involved to hide his fatal attack.

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“His actions were heartless and brutal, but thankfully CCTV footage of the events leading up to and after the attack significantly helped to put this violent man behind bars.

“I would like to thank the community for their support, throughout what has been a difficult investigation - particularly the witnesses who offered to give evidence in court. Without their bravery and courage the defendant would not have pleaded guilty and we are indebted to their courage. “

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