Zarreen Alam-Cheetham secures conviction after modern slavery and duress defences rejected

February 11, 2026

Zarreen Alam-Cheetham from Exchange Chambers has secured the conviction of a defendant charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, following a trial at Bradford Crown Court.

The case involved the seizure of cannabis with an estimated street value of approximately £20,000. A substantial quantity was recovered from the defendant’s accommodation, with a further amount found on his person at the time of arrest.

The defendant advanced defences of modern slavery and duress, alleging that he had been coerced into drug dealing under threats of serious violence linked to an historic drugs debt. He claimed he acted solely as a courier, with others directing and profiting from the supply operation.

Through detailed examination of the evidence, Zarreen Alam-Cheetham demonstrated that the defendant’s account was inconsistent with the physical and forensic findings. The drugs were recovered in bulk form, with no scales, packaging or other indicators of street-level dealing, undermining the suggestion that the defendant was acting under compulsion to supply drugs to third parties.

The prosecution case also involved careful analysis of CCTV evidence and the surrounding circumstances relied upon to support the duress claim. Zarreen Alam-Cheetham successfully rebutted the assertion that the defendant had been acting under coercion, highlighting that the account advanced did not withstand objective scrutiny.

Following a three-day trial, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts after just 40 minutes of deliberation.

The case highlights the importance of rigorous, evidence-based scrutiny of modern slavery and duress defences, ensuring that genuine victims of exploitation are properly protected while criminal responsibility is upheld where the evidence does not support such claims.