A DRUG dealer who sold heroin and cocaine outside the “halfway house” where she was living has been jailed for five years and four months.

Tracey Jones, of no fixed address, was told by a recorder that she had abused the hospitality of English Church Housing, in Speedwell Street, Oxford.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.

Naomi Perry, prosecuting on Tuesday at Oxford Crown Court, said Jones was spotted by police on August 22 outside the housing association property where she lived.

Our top stories

She told Recorder Antonio Bueno staff at the halfway house for homeless people had called the police because they believed she was dealing drugs to other residents.

The barrister said when she was arrested Jones was carrying 47 wraps of crack cocaine and 25 wraps of heroin – worth about £730 – as well as £220 cash.

Miss Perry said she was released on bail, but on September 4 was again seen by police selling drugs, this time outside St Aldate’s Church, in the centre of Oxford, and was again arrested. She was carrying four wraps of crack cocaine and seven wraps of heroin, worth about £110, hidden in her bra and £390 cash, she added.

Stuart Matthews, defending, said his client’s drug addiction was “profound” but with help she might be able to break her cycle of offending.

But Recorder Bueno said Jones had 30 convictions for 60 offences and had not taken “chance after chance after chance” she had been given.

He told her: “To my mind it is clear that these offences were committed in a professional way – you knew what you were doing.

“You abused the hospitality extended to you by English Church Housing, which provided you with accommodation when you were homeless.

“This was an appalling abuse of the kindness and charity that was extended to you.”

Jones will also have to pay a £120 victims’ surcharge when she is released.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.