Members of a drugs line selling heroin and crack cocaine under the street name ‘Josh n Bex’ face time behind bars.

Adam Scott, 48, of Withycombe Drive, Banbury, was a day into his trial at Oxford Crown Court for conspiracy to supply class A drugs when he coughed to the charge.

His co-defendant, Wahqas Ahmed, 31, of Hilton Road, Banbury, had already admitted the two charges when he appeared before court on Monday.

The pair were said by prosecutors to have been part of a gang linked to the ‘Josh n Bex’ drugs line - dealing heroin and cocaine in Banbury between June 2021 and January 2022. Detectives had found quarter of a kilogramme of cocaine, believed to have been destined for supply on the streets, in a ‘business unit’ in the town.

Judge Ian Pringle QC adjourned sentence until September 1. Although he ordered pre-sentence reports, both men were warned that that provided ‘no indication’ of the likely sentence they would receive.

Ahmed will also be sentenced at the next hearing for causing a man grievous bodily harm in Banbury on January 16.

The victim was struck with what was described as the ‘blunt end’ of an axe. The case was originally charged as a robbery, with the victim allegedly relieved of a Gucci bag, credit cards and driving licence, although prosecutors accepted Ahmed’s plea to assault.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

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