A FORMER strong man from Harrow was jailed this week for his part in a drugs deal worth £65,000.

Jimmy Marku, who held Britain’s and the UK’s Strongest Man titles was among four men jailed on Monday for possession with intent to supply cannabis.

The 37-year-old of Buckingham Road played a pivotal role in the deal which was coordinated through a number of different parties to try and prevent them being linked to each other.

He was jailed for nine months at Harrow Crown Court after he was convicted by a jury following a two week re-trial last month.

During the trial the court heard how on the afternoon of November 18, 2010, Marku, who said he was ‘honoured to represent Britain’ following his emigration from Romania, and his long-standing friend Hugh McCourt had pre-arranged to meet at a location in Willesden High Road ‘for a drink’.

They were watched by waiting police officers sitting in McCourt’s car, which was parked in Brondesbury Park Road waiting for the delivery of the drugs.

The two were seen driving off before stopping in an adjoining side street to Willesden High Road where McCourt was signalled to stop.

Another car, driven by Adriatik Dosti, pulled up alongside McCourt who then got into the passenger seat before the car drove off into nearby Ellis Close, leaving Marku behind.

McCourt called Marku to inform him he had met with Dosti - who had been tasked with the delivery of the cannabis - and that Marku was to meet them in Ellis Close where the handover would take place.

Upon Marku’s arrival, ten individually wrapped packages were transferred from Dosti’s vehicle to the boot of McCourt’s car. With the handover complete they all left.

All three were arrested shortly after leaving Ellis Close and on searching McCourt’s car officers uncovered the ten wrapped packages, revealing 10.2 kilograms of cannabis.

Following further investigations, Anton Prenga was identified as being another cog in the deal.

The 36-year-old, who was formerly Marku’s boss at a security firm, would liaise with Marku about the drop before calling a third party who would relay the information back to Dosti.

Prenga, was convicted during the same trial of possession with intent to supply cannabis and was sentenced to 13 months in prison.

Dosti, 39, of Brownlow Road, Bounds Green and McCourt, 41, of Villiers Road, Dollis Hill had both earlier admitted to possession with intent to supply cannabis and were both sentenced to 10 weeks in prison.

Detective Inspector Steven Miles of Middle Market Drugs Partnership said afterwards: “Today’s sentences are a reflection of the determination of all agencies involved to tackle those criminal networks intent on supplying drugs and making a profit from their illicit activities.”