A ‘’PERSISTENT’ dealer convicted of 247 offences is behind bars once again after being caught dishing out drugs in the city.

Michael Lilley, who has been breaking the law since 1989, confessed he turned to street dealing to fund his £60-a-day drug addiction.

The convict, whose 14-year drug addiction landed him behind bars for 20 months on Thursday, claimed he ‘relapsed’ and fell into depression after the death of his dog last year.

Sentencing at Oxford Crown Court, Judge Maria Lamb condemned Lilley for his ‘extensive’ criminal record before also slapping him with a financial penalty.

The 45-year-old told his partner sitting in the public gallery to ‘countdown’, miming ‘I love ya’ as he was escorted from the dock.

Officers searched a Banbury property where Lilley was staying, discovering packages containing amphetamine in his bedroom and a set of scales last February.

Drugs with a street value of £2,840, weighing 387.79g, were uncovered, while drug-dealing text messages were on his phone, prosecutor Alexandra Bull said.

Lilley was stopped by police while driving in Banbury last July, when police stumbled upon more than 72g of amphetamine, worth at least £1,200, and flowering cannabis buds.

The drug dealer was arrested in relation to an unrelated matter when officers discovered cannabis resin concealed in his inner jacket pocket last November.

Defence barrister Gordana Turudija-Austin said Lilley cannot fund his drug habit through ‘legitimate means’, using a ‘substantial’ bulk of drugs each day.

The defendant also cares for his partner, the barrister told the court on Thursday.

Lilley, of Hearthway, Banbury, admitted possessing amphetamine, a class B drug, with intent to supply on February 18 and July 13 last year.

He also admitted possessing cannabis, a class B drug, with intent to supply on July 13 last year, and possession of the drug on November 26 last year.

Judge Maria Lamb ordered him to pay a victim surcharge and £383.55 costs, which was the amount of his cash seized by police, as well as the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia.