A ‘COUNTY lines’ drug dealer who sold drugs from out of a vulnerable man’s home has been jailed.

Junior Kilola, of Shearling Way, Islington, had already admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs – heroin and crack cocaine – as well as breaching a community order.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing on Tuesday how the 21-year old had been part of a drugs operation running out of a ‘vulnerable’ man’s home – a practice known as cuckooing.

Prosecutor Julian Lynch told the court that the drug dealing was only uncovered after police investigated the home of a man who had previously been the victim of drug dealers using his home as a base for operations.

On entering the home at Venables Close, Oxford, on May 1, officers found Kilola inside and on searching him they uncovered a haul of more than 50 wraps of drugs.

Kilola had 27 wraps of crack cocaine and 31 wraps of heroin, the court heard, which had a street value of roughly £580.

The court also heard that at the time of the offence he had been subject to a community order for a previous conviction for dealing cannabis.

In mitigation, Thomas White said that the stash of drugs seized from his client was ‘relatively small’ and it was pressure that led to him dealing.

He said: “They [gang members] let him know that they knew where he lived and could come and find him when necessary.

“Through coercion, intimidation and pressure he was then forced to work for these men in order to sell drugs outside London.”

Sentencing, Judge Simon Wilkinson said: “You were using a vulnerable person’s home to deal with class A drugs. Inevitably these offences are so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.”

Kilola was jailed for three years - two and a half for each drug charge concurrent, and six additional months for breaching the community order.