AA DEALER caught driving a hire car carrying drugs, tried to evade justice by giving police officers who stopped him a fake name.

But the ruse didn’t work, with officers moments later discovering an identity card he was carrying, containing his real name: Jamie Furlong

The 21-year-old of Howard Street, Oxford appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday for sentencing.

He had already admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin as well as one count of simple possession of cannabis.

Outlining the case at the court prosecutor Jonathan Stone said police first spotted a hire car driving 'erratically' in the city centre in the early hours of November 6 last year.

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When the car was stopped near St Clement's, Oxford, officers saw a number of people inside with Furlong at the wheel.

He said there was a 'strong smell of cannabis' coming from inside.

When asked to give his details, Mr Stone said, Furlong instead gave a false name, but soon after his real identity was confirmed when police discovered an ID card on him.

They went on to search the car and on further investigation police found a cache of drugs stashed inside the vehicle.

In total officers seized £400 worth of class A drugs, made up of 39 wraps of crack cocaine and a single wrap of heroin.

A small quantity of cannabis was also found but no cash was seized.

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A mobile phone that was taken was found to have messages consistent with drugs 'marketing' text messages stored on it. Prosecutors said that there was 'quite a lot' of messages found on the device.

The passengers in the car were not charged in connection with the class A drugs and one unnamed person was later dealt with for possession of cannabis.

The court also heard that Furlong has a number of previous convictions including for offences of failing to comply with court orders, causing criminal damage and drugs offences.

Despite answering no comment to police at interview for his latest offence he went on to admit possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

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In mitigation at yesterday's hearing Richard Demczak said that his client - who is already in prison for other offences - had been doing well in prison.

He added however that a family tragedy had had a 'detrimental impact on his mental health' and said the prison had stopped him from completing courses to focus on his health.

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb ordered that he serve a jail term totalling three years and five months for each count to run concurrently with each other.

He must also pay a victim surcharge and the drugs will be destroyed.