A judge sent out a fresh warning that drug dealing would not be tolerated when she jailed a crack cocaine addict for four-and-a-half years.

Sentencing 52-year-old Londoner Joseph Korsah to prison for dealing heroin and crack cocaine in Banbury, Judge MaryJane Mowat said: "The evidence puts you in the bottom league of suppliers.

"I appreciate the amounts were small and your motivation was to sustain your own addiction." But she added: "The bringing of class A drugs into country towns is a matter of great concern to the public."

The week before last Judge Mowat jailed 20-year-old, first offender David Matthews for two-and-a-half years for dealing ecstasy. She also sent heroin dealer Justin Langford to prison for four years.

Robert Spencer-Barnard, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court that police found heroin deals in Korsah's pockets when they raided a house in Gilkes Yard, Banbury, on June 4. Mr Spencer-Barnard said that while Korsah was being searched he dropped a package down his trousers. It was found to contain crack cocaine.

The drugs had a street value of £370 but Korsah claimed they were for his own use.

Thames Valley Police drugs expert Det Con Paul Norley earlier told the court he knew of no previous seizures of hard class A drugs in Banbury, particularly of crack cocaine. A jury found Korsah, of Earlsfield Road, Wandsworth, South London, guilty of two charges of possession with intent to supply.

The judge ordered that £290 cash found on him should be confiscated.

Story date: Monday 22 November

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