A THIRD-STRIKE drug dealer has avoided a minimum jail term of seven years because he was 'forced into' his offending.

Armand Manzenza was caught dealing drugs for a third time and was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.

Repeated offences for drug dealing usually attract a minimum jail sentence.

But a judge said that because Manzenza was a victim of modern slavery and subject to threats against his family he could reduce the jail term to just three years instead.

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The 22-year-old of North Countess Road, London, had already admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs - cocaine and heroin.

A third allegation of acquiring criminal property was ordered to lie on the file and was not proceeded with.

Outlining the case at his sentencing hearing prosecutor John Upton said police caught Manzenza after going to a home in Abingdon on January 16 for a 'welfare check.'

Officers went to the address at Brampton Close at about 3.45pm.

Inside they saw Manzenza leaving a bathroom with the toilet having just been flushed.

On closer inspection a 'golf ball sized package' was found inside the toilet bowl, which was revealed to contain a number of wraps of class A drugs.

Manzenza was also found to have cash on him totalling £425.55.

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He was arrested and the total haul of drugs seized was 11g of cocaine and 3g of heroin.

His telephone also indicated that he had been involved in the supply of class A drugs.

Manzenza went on to plead guilty to two offences of drug dealing before his sentencing hearing.

It was revealed at that hearing that he had previously been convicted of drug dealing offences, and that this was his third conviction for similar matters.

Ahead of the sentencing hearing an investigation was carried out which confirmed that Manzenza had been a victim of 'modern slavery' while offending.

In mitigation defence barrister Peter Du Feu said that his client had suffered 'duress by other men' throughout his criminal career.

He added that Manzenza suffered from a lifelong medical condition and had difficulties in his early childhood.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC said Manzenza was 'forced into it' and that there had been threats made to his family.

He said he would not pass the minimum sentence of seven years because Manzenza was found to be a victim of modern slavery.

He warned: "You are not going to be able to run this every time you appear before the court."

Manzenza was jailed for a total of three years and must pay a statutory victim surcharge.