A DRUG dealer who ran away from police even though they were not planning to stop him has been handed a prison sentence.

Qais Ahmed, of Withycombe Drive, Banbury, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cannabis, a Class B drug, with intent to supply.

Rachel Drake, prosecuting, said the 19-year-old was arrested on April 8 this year carrying about £270 worth of cannabis.

She told Judge Patrick Eccles that Ahmed was recognised by the officers because he was on police bail for another drugs offence, with which he was never charged, but they had not intended to arrest him. Despite this the prosecutor said he began to run away, prompting the officers to chase him and take him into custody.

Miss Drake said then on April 28 the same officer spotted Ahmed in Mold Crescent, Banbury, near a school, passing something to someone in an alleyway. She said once again the defendant tried to escape, this time on a bicycle, but was arrested carrying £160 worth of cannabis.

Andrew Newton, defending, said his client had demonstrated “stupidity and naivet’’.

He said: “He is clearly not on the path to becoming a hardened drug dealer. To open himself up to arrest in the same way again as he did almost beggars belief.’’ Judge Eccles said as Ahmed had already served four months in custody he would pass a short prison sentence taking this into account.

He told the defendant: “Having been released on bail within three weeks you are found doing exactly the same thing, you were back on the street near a school. You have shown a complete lack of respect for the authority of the police and the courts.’’ He sentenced him to nine months in prison and said he would have to pay a £100 victims' surcharge.

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