A JUDGE has jailed a 22-year-old drug dealer and said she hopes his sentence will send a message to other criminals.

Manveer Sandhu, of Martin Close, Bicester, admitted one count of possessing cannabis, a Class B drug, with intent to supply on November 9 last year.

Giles Curtis-Raleigh, prosecuting, said the former Bicester College student was arrested after police saw him making a deal in Langford Village, Bicester.

He told Judge Mary Jane Mowat that officers found he was carrying £340 worth of cannabis, with another £540 of the drug discovered at his home address.

The barrister added that police also recovered £120 cash, scales, a cannabis grinder and a phone containing “unambiguous” messages about drugs, one of which asked: “You got weed?”.

He added yesterday in Oxford Crown Court that Sandhu has a caution on his record for possessing cannabis and another conviction for dealing the drug more recently.

Daren Samat, defending, said his client had been a good student who was hoping to get a job working at a car dealership in Botley.

He said Sandhu started smoking cannabis regularly and his friends “would often ask for a small amount of drugs” so he started dealing to them.

Judge Mowat sentenced him to six months in prison and said: “I hope it sends a message to people like you attempting to get involved in selling drugs for money.”