A DRUG dealer caught as part of a Thames Valley Police crackdown on drug gangs operating across Banbury has been jailed.

Onur Manga, of Mallory Close, London, had already admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs - heroin and crack cocaine.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing on Tuesday how the 20-year old, who had been operating in Banbury throughout April, was first searched by police after a raid at an address in in the town on April 18 this year.

Searching Manga they discovered drugs with a street value of £1,420 made up of 15 wraps of heroin and 127 wraps of cocaine.

Police also seized a mobile phone which on later analysis showed a string of messages from unidentified criminals who were operating the drugs line which was known as the 'Ash' line.

The text messages included helpful warnings from those higher in the chain reminding Manga to delete text messages as well as regular 'stock checks' in which he reported back how much of the drugs were left at the end of day's drug dealing.

In mitigation, Lucy Tapper said that her client - a man with no other criminal convictions, had acted 'genuinely out of character' and 'made a crazy decision' to get involved in drug dealing.

Sentencing Judge Peter Ross said: "You may or may not appreciate the harm that drug dealers such as you bring to local communities.

"Unless one has been living in a complete bubble over the last year or so every one in this court will appreciate just how much harm county lines drug dealing is causing within our community.

"It is a very significant problem and the sentences that are going to be imposed and have been imposed are mainly to deter."

Manga was jailed for a total of three years on each count to run concurrently.

He will also be subject to a later proceeds of crime hearing to recover his ill-gotten gains.