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Drug dealer escapes jail term

From the archive, first published Wednesday 4th Jun 2003.

An Oxford man who funded a six-year, £70-a-week drug habit by selling cannabis to his friends has escaped a prison sentence.

Axel Foley, 39, of Burchester Avenue, Barton, was sentenced to 120 hours' unpaid community work on Tuesday, June 3, after a judge said his crime did not deserve prison.

Foley was arrested in October last year after police raided his home.

Cannabis resin and herbal cannabis, worth a total of £685, were found in his kitchen, Huw Williams, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court.

Electronic scales and a pen-knife with traces of cannabis were also seized, along with £480 in cash.

Foley, formerly known as Lawrence Blundell, admitted two counts of possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Stephen Cotton, defending, said Foley had benefited to the tune of £21,000 by selling drugs. But he said prison would have a devastating effect because Foley was the sole carer of four children.

Imposing a community punishment order, Judge Julian Hall said: "You have broken the law and you should be punished."

Foley was ordered to pay £250 towards prosecution costs, while £850 was also confiscated as proceeds from drug trafficking.

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