A DRUG dealer caught walking up to strangers at Oxford's Folly Bridge and trying to peddle crack cocaine and heroin has been jailed.

Conn Townsend, of no fixed abode, came down from Coventry in order to ply his wares as part of a 'county lines' drugs plot.

Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday that the 26-year old was first spotted by undercover police officers at Folly Bridge on April 12.

He had been approaching what he thought were drug users, the court heard, to try and sell crack cocaine and heroin to them.

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When he was searched by police he was found to be in possession of 14 wraps of the two class A drugs, as well as £270 in drugs money.

He later admitted before magistrates two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

At his sentencing hearing yesterday his defence barrister Kellie Enever urged the court to suspend any jail term in light of her client's lack of any previous convictions.

She went on to say during mitigation that Townsend had only fallen into drug dealing after he was made homeless having lost a job working at a public house in Coventry, which was closed down.

Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said that the offence had to be marked by an immediate term of imprisonment.

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He said: "You were supplying drug to members of the public in Oxford. You had come from Coventry for that purpose.

"I accept that you are at the bottom of the range, you are somebody who has been recruited by others further up the chain to go and do the stuff on the street.

"You pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and you were frank with police during the course of your interview so I am able to give you full credit.

"An immediate custodial sentence in my judgement is necessary for this type of offending."

He was jailed for a total of 20 months and must pay a victim surcharge.