A 21-year-old man from Oxford has received a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to drug-related offences in the city.
Naqeeb Shaheen, whose address was given as Weymann Terrace in Oxford, was convicted of two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
The substances involved were cocaine and heroin.
Oxford Crown Court presided over the sentencing hearing on September 18.
The proceedings were told that police officers observed Shaheen engaged in selling drugs to a woman in Oxford on September 4 2024.
After being spotted by law enforcement, Shaheen departed the scene on a bicycle.
Officers observed him discarding a bag before making his escape through an LTN barrier.
Despite this attempt to evade capture, police subsequently located him and carried out a search.
During the search, officers discovered £161 in cash on his person.
The bag he had discarded was recovered and found to contain cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of £490.
Defence counsel Gareth James addressed the court on behalf of his client.
The barrister explained that Shaheen had not committed any further offences since September 2024.
He submitted that the defendant had previously strayed from the right path and sought to earn money through illegal means.
The defence maintained that Shaheen had acknowledged his mistakes and demonstrated genuine potential for reform.
Presiding over the case, Judge Michael Gledhill KC acknowledged the defendant’s subsequent conduct.
The judge noted that Shaheen had stayed clear of further trouble, describing this as commendable.
The judicial officer observed that Shaheen appeared to be maturing.
The court indicated that there was no apparent obstacle preventing him from obtaining employment and leading a productive life, and therefore a chance would be afforded.
Shaheen was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, suspended for a period of three years.
He was also ordered to contribute £150 towards legal costs.
The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs recovered during the investigation, along with a mobile phone and the cash that had been seized.