A man who has denied conspiracy to supply heroin has admitted he was a drug dealer in Didcot.

Steven McDowell, 23, and Nathan Greenwood, 31, both of Westfield, Harwell, both deny two charges of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

McDowell yesterday told Oxford Crown Court he would get heroin from a dealer, take it to his bedroom and use card to divide it into wraps.

Tyrone Belger, defending McDowell, said: "From what you say, you admit that you are guilty of supplying drugs."

McDowell said: "Yes."

But when Mr Belger asked if he was part of a conspiracy to supply heroin, McDowell said: "No."

McDowell denied Greenwood had ever been present when he had been dividing up heroin to sell, but admitted occasionally selling drugs to his co-defendant, who lived with his sister.

He said: "I don't dislike him (Greenwood) but he's not a mate, I only know him through my sister."

When asked about picking up the drugs from a mystery supplier in Blackbird Leys, known only as "Mr X", McDowell admitted he was banned from driving and got friends to take him to Oxford in their cars.

He said he owed the dealer £3,000 and was forced to sell drugs for him.

Simon Mayo, prosecuting, said: "You accept you agreed with another person to commit a criminal offence?"

McDowell said: "I didn't agree to it. He told me to do it. I had no choice in the matter."

Mr Mayo then asked him to reveal the name of the man who supplied him with the drugs, suggesting it could help his case.

McDowell said: "I don't want to. I don't want to get into trouble with him if he finds out I have been blabbing his name around the courtroom.

"He used to let me go to his house when I first lost my job. I started getting in a rut and he let me run up a debt of £3,000.

"They do it to everyone, then you have to take the drugs and get rid of them for them. You have no choice."

The trial continues.