A TAXI driver from Worcester sobbed as he denied being a chauffeur for a drug dealer or knowing that the apartments he booked on the dealer's behalf were being used as a drugs factory.

Shakur Hussain took to the witness stand on Wednesday and Thursday during his trial at Worcester Crown Court, telling the jury he thought his regular fare, drug dealer Asgar Khalfe, was a 'car trader'.

Mopping his eyes with a tissue, the 38-year-old of Compton Road, Worcester, said he did not know that apartments at City Nites at Arena View, Birmingham and booked in his name were being used as a drugs factory.

Hussain got a discount of 10 per cent because of customer loyalty, telling Khalfe about the apartments when he heard that his passenger was paying more than £100 per night to stay in Birmingham hotels. Hussain spoke to one of the managers at City Nites and told Khalfe he could get apartments for £500 for seven nights.

Hussain denies conspiring to supply heroin and crack cocaine, possession of criminal property and production of crack cocaine.

He told the jury he was Khalfe's 'preferred driver'. Hussain acknowledged that Khalfe, who he described as 'a friendly, genuine guy', had his work and personal mobile phone numbers.

The father-of-three was arrested in a Mercedes taxi in Loves Grove, Worcester on October 16 last year with passenger Khalfe who gave a false name to police.

In total around £1,980 of cash was found in Hussain's taxi behind the front passenger seat. Khalfe has since admitted his role in the conspiracy. So too have Terry Melsom and Christopher Franklin.

A police officer – DC Simon Lloyd – suffered a broken leg when he was struck by a car driven by Franklin on October 16, the day he and his passenger, Melsom, were arrested.

Hussain, known as 'Shak', broke down in tears when asked about his family, telling the jury he had worked as a taxi driver for 14 years and was self-employed at the time of his arrest but had previously worked for Central Taxis.

He said a deposit of £400 into his Lloyds bank account was for a raffle and other deposits in March last year were him depositing his earnings from taxi work. Money from this Lloyds account was then transferred into his Barclays account which was used to pay his bills and mortgage.

Hussain told the jury that £150 he paid into the account of the father of a convicted drug dealer was for a new mobile phone.

He described dealer Khalfe as 'a friendly, genuine guy', regularly driving him between Worcester and Birmingham.

Sophie Murray, defending, said: "Did you agree to bring him to Worcester so he could deal drugs?"

"No I never" said Hussain.

"Did you suspect he was a drug dealer?"

"Never once" said Hussain.

"Did you know there was a drugs factory in Arena View?"

"No I didn't" Hussain replied.

He said there was 'no way' he would he have taken Khalfe in his taxi if he had known he was involved in drugs.

Hussain described himself as 'not wealthy' with a car on finance, mortgage arrears and a credit card debt of £1,700.

The court heard how Hussain had previous convictions for perverting the course of justice '18 to 20 years ago' when he did not have a driving licence and gave false details to police.

He also has convictions for obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance.

The trial continues.