A JUDGE spared a convicted drug dealer more time in jail for giving his friend £100,000 of drugs money to buy a house.

Gavin Preston, 36, was jailed for 12 years in March for his part in a multi-million pound drug ring peddling cocaine between August 2013 and September last year.

Oxford Crown Court heard on Friday that Preston had transferred £100,000 of drugs money to his friend Craig Hanlon’s account.

Cathy Olliver, prosecuting, said that Mr Hanlon used the cash to buy a house in Gidley Way, Horspath, telling his bank it was a gift from his father.

She added: “He wrote to them setting that out clearly and saying it did not require repayment.

“The fact that that money came from Mr Preston came to light as a result of a money-laundering investigation.”

Miss Olliver said that when questioned about the cash, Preston claimed he had won it gambling because he had no income at the time of the transfer.

She added: “He said the money was entirely from his gambling winnings.”

Preston, of Astrop Lane, Littlemore, Oxford, was one of nine people – including his two brothers Aaron and Reece – jailed for their part in three conspiracies to peddle heroin and cocaine.

The court heard that detectives used covert cameras and bugs to spy on the gang before seizing almost 15kg of cocaine and 7kg of heroin, with an estimated street value of £24m.

Also seized was more than £50,000 in cash, mixing agents, a hydraulic press and various items of drug paraphernalia.

Preston admitted one count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He later admitted one count of concealing criminal property in relation to the £100,000.

Adrian Amer, defending, said that since being jailed at HMP Bullingdon, Preston had stopped gambling and set up a Gamblers Anonymous support group. He added: “He found that rewarding and rewarding for others.”

Mr Amer said that if Preston’s sentence was extended it would cause him to lose hope and jeopardise his good work.

He added: “If anything was to be made consecutive I would respectfully submit it would undo all the good work he has done. If he gets anything other than a 12-year sentence he will probably lose all hope.”

Judge Ian Pringle QC said that if Preston had not pleaded guilty he would have given him an extra two years in jail.

He added: “You transferred £100,000 to a friend of yours. He was unaware of the origins of that money and has subsequently been acquitted. The money came from a combination of your gambling but also your drug dealing.”

Judge Pringle said that because of the positive things Preston had achieved in jail, his early guilty plea and the total length of his existing sentence, he would make the 12-month jail term run concurrently.