Banbury drug dealer given chance to turn life around

Luke Stark, of Duke Street, Banbury, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday, April 1.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a class A drug, and being concerned in the supply of a class B drug.

These offences related to November 30, 2021 in Banbury.

Stark also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at High Street, South Bar Street, the A361 and Grange Road in Banbury on May 8, 2022.

Alice Aubrey-Fletcher, prosecuting, previously told the court that in November 2021 he was found with the drugs which were for ‘social supply for friends’.

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Oxford Crown Court (Image: Oxford Mail)

Then on May 8, 2022, police saw Stark in a silver Ford Focus in Banbury town centre and he accelerated away and was pursued.

The court heard he was recorded driving at speeds of 60mph in 30mph zones.

The court heard that Stark had three previous convictions for 11 offences which included drug dealing.

During a previous court hearing Lyall Thompson, mitigating, said: “A considerable amount of time has passed.

“He has made exceptional progress since then. It should not have taken police four years to charge someone in these circumstances.

“It’s to his credit that he has moved away from drugs. It’s not an easy thing to do, but he seems to be on the right track.

“There are positive signs that his life is turning around.”

Judge Hassan Khan said: “There has been a significant delay in this case.”

The court heard that Stark was found with tablets of 2CB and ketamine when police searched his property in November 2021. The drugs had a street value of £575.

The Judge added: “You said it was for social supply. You said you had cut down on your personal drug use. You weren’t supplying drugs to strangers in the street.

“You were bailed and you committed the dangerous driving offence on May 8. There was a police chase and you were driving at 60mph.

“It’s a matter of sheer good fortune that nobody came to harm. It was obviously a highly dangerous manoeuvre.

“There is significant mitigation in this case. There is remorse here. You’ve had long-standing drug issues. There are prospects for you to turn your life around.”

Stark was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity days, six months of mental health rehabilitation, 200 hours of unpaid work and a five-month curfew to last from 8pm to 6am.

He was also banned from driving for two years and orders were made for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia.