A 'COUNTY lines' drug dealer caught selling class A drugs to addicts in Bicester has been spared jail.

Navid Haider, of Newark Road, Luton, 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 on Thursday how the 25-year old had was stopped by police in the centre of Bicester at Priory Road at about 1.20pm on February 7 last year.

Officers saw Haider driving a black VW Golf along with a passenger who was a known drug users, the court heard, and so the car was stopped and searched.

On searching Haider police found dozens of wraps of class A drugs, made up of 22 wraps of heroin and 36 wraps of crack cocaine.

The drugs carried a street value of about £580 and a mobile phone seized from Haider also showed a number of text messages which indicated the sale of drugs.

Messages included requests for 'white' - indicating crack cocaine, as well as messages asking 'are you on' - common slang to ask if a drug dealer is available.

In mitigation at the hearing, Nathan Scott said that his client had been 'intimidated and coerced' into dealing drugs after incurring a debt with other, unnamed criminals

He added that Haider was 'extremely remorseful' and did not play a senior role in the county lines drugs operation.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC said that while the offence was so serious he had to order a custodial sentence it was a term of imprisonment that he could suspended.

Haider was given a two-year jail term, suspended for two years, and must carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay a victim surcharge.

As Haider was about to leave the dock Judge Pringle added: "I think you are someone who can make something of your life. Take this chance, you won't get another one."