A MAN set to stand trial for dealing class A drugs has pleaded guilty after a judge ruled the jury could hear about his criminal past.

Despite first denying his role in the West Oxfordshire drugs plot Adam Rochester changed his mind only moments before a jury was expected to be sworn in.

The 37-year-old, of HMP Bullingdon, was due to begin his trial at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after denying two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs - heroin and cocaine.

READ AGAIN: Man 'caught red-handed dealing drugs' claims he was only buying them.

He had also denied one count of possessing criminal property - £1,100 in cash.

Before a jury was set to try the case prosecutor John Carmichael made a 'bad character' application - where a judge decides if previous convictions can be revealed to jurors.

After presiding Judge Ian Pringle QC ruled that other offences of drug dealing could be put before a jury Jonathan Coode, defending, privately discussed the case with his client.

After 30 minutes Rochester had a change of heart and he pleaded guilty to all three counts.

The court heard that Rochester was caught in a hire car with the drugs on October 26 2018.

He was found in the Witney area along with another woman - Rheanne Sawyer - with drugs and cash.

In all Rochester had on him 9.8g of heroin and 4.3g of cocaine.

He also had £1,100 in cash, which he admitted represented 'criminal property.'

After the change of plea Judge Pringle agreed to adjourn sentencing so that a letter can be obtained from prison on how Rochester has fared since his remand in September.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus vaccine by Oxford University 'can train immune system'.

Mr Coode said that his client would likely have a 'glowing report from the prison.'

Rochester will be sentenced together with Sawyer at the same court on July 31 and he was remanded in custody.

He will also be sentenced for a previous case of drug dealing for which he was convicted in February.

In that case he had pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin, and two counts of being concerned in the supply of the same Class A substances.

Despite his denial a jury unanimously found him guilty of all four counts.

During the trial prosecutor John Carmichael said Rochester was caught 'red-handed' by a CCTV operator and then by police.

He had been spotted on CCTV at the Waitrose car park in Abbey Close, Abingdon, just after 8pm on September 2 last year.

He was seen 'making a sale', the court heard, to a woman in a parked car.

Police arrived on the scene and he was searched.

They found a total of 12 wraps of cocaine and two of heroin, stashed inside a 'gas cannister', as well as bundles of cash and three mobile phones.

Rochester had claimed that he had been buying drugs and not selling them, but he was ultimately found guilty.