A TEENAGE drug dealer targeted by police on Oxford’s Blackbird Leys estate has been jailed.

Tinashe Mushangi was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court to almost three years in an outcome described as “fantastic” by police.

The 18-year-old was caught with heroin, crack cocaine and a lock-knife after acting suspiciously near Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre in Pegasus Road on March 8 this year.

Among his stash, Mushangi, of Clematis Place, was found to have 22 wraps of heroin in his underwear.

At a previous hearing he had admitted two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and possessing an article with a blade or point, before he was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.

Judge Tom Corrie jailed him for two years and 10 months.

Speaking after the court case, Pc Russell Stevenson from the Blackbird Leys Neighbourhood Team, said: “It’s fantastic, we’re really pleased.

“We are always getting feedback from the community and this man had been a target of ours already.”

Pc Stevenson said officers swooped after Mushangi was seen to be dealing outside the leisure centre.

He said: “We believed him to be involved in a lot of drug dealing.

“We had witnessed him acting suspiciously by the leisure centre and he was stopped after he looked like he was going to make off.

“He was found with 22 wraps of heroin and one roll of crack cocaine in his underwear and a lock-knife.”

Pc Stevenson said stopping drug dealing was high on the list of priorities for police in Blackbird Leys.

He said: “For years the community has told us that drugs are one of the highest priorities.

“Which is why we are always watching. We’re always looking for the drug dealers.

“If you carry drugs or weapons on the Leys, we will catch you and deal with you robustly.”