Dealer ran 'commercial' drugs ring from parent's home in Headington

Ari Shaho, of Gladstone Road, Oxford, had already admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs - cocaine and heroin, as well as possession of cannabis and acquiring criminal property.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing hearing yesterday how the 19-year old was only caught after a police raid at his home on the morning of June 5.

Searching the house - where he lived with his parents - they found a cache of drugs with a total street value of more than £6,000. They also found cash totalling £8,705.51, five mobile phones and three knives covered in drugs residue.

Of the haul of drugs which were seized officers found two stashes of crack cocaine - one weighing 24.3g and the other 24.6g.

They also found cocaine weighing 3.87g, more crack cocaine weighing 1.36g and about £70 worth of heroin.

Officers said that the total street value of the drugs was £6,630.

In mitigation at the hearing yesterday defence barrister Peter Du Feu said that his client had fallen into a cannabis habit and incurred a drugs debt as a result.

He added that Shaho had only been dealing drugs for five weeks and said that he now planned to take on courses while in prison to further his education in English and mathematics.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC said that Shaho had dealt the drugs on a 'commercial scale' from his family home and the offence fell at the 'top end' of the significant role category.

Shaho was jailed for a total of 40 months and must pay a statutory victim surcharge,

Judge Pringle said as Shaho left the dock: "I trust that this is the only time you ever appear in a criminal court."