Addict jailed for selling drugs to fund his own habit

Ilyaas Gure had already admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs - crack cocaine and heroin.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing hearing yesterday how police spoke to known drug users in the Banbury area on April 21 and they were directed to a flat at Cromwell Road as the source of the drugs.

When police raided the address they found the 25-year old, of no fixed abode, inside, in what later transpired to be a drug dealing den.

Gure had come down from Birmingham that day and was found to have 44 wraps of crack cocaine and 31 wraps of heroin.

The value of drugs was about £870 and £276 in cash was also seized from the address.

Despite answering no comment at interview he later went on to admit both offences of drug dealing.

In mitigation at the sentencing hearing yesterday defence barrister Daren Samat said that his client had fallen into tough times and had been 'slipping further and further into debt'.

He said that Gure fell into a class A drugs habit and was later 'taken advantage of' by other drug dealers and began to sell the drugs just to feed his own addiction.

He added: "There was a degree of pressure or coercion by others. Perhaps he was a little naive, he is not a hardened criminal despite the fact he has lived in a difficult situation."

Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said: "This is very, very common and I accept what has been said on your behalf.

"That you were under financial pressure, but as you will appreciate this is no way to deal with it."

Gure was jailed for 28 months on each of the two counts to run concurrently with each other, totalling 28 months.

He must also pay a victim surcharge.