Drugs dealer caught selling in Cornmarket (From The Oxford Times)
When It Happens Panel Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'OXFORD NEWS' to 80360 or email
Drugs dealer caught selling in Cornmarket
12:40pm Tuesday 1st May 2012 in News By Thom Airs
Ben Matthews
A DRUGS dealer was caught selling heroin and cocaine in Oxford’s main shopping street just weeks after being released from prison.
Ben Matthews was also cautioned for possessing heroin just three days before he was seen making a sale with the aid of a Big Issue seller in Cornmarket Street.
The 25-year-old was jailed for three years at Oxford Crown Court on Friday after admitting two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.
Prosecutor Cathy Olliver said Mat-thews was seen on CCTV acting suspiciously with two other men on February 28.
She said the customer, who was found with four wraps of cocaine, was cautioned.
The Big Issue seller who acted as the go-between has been identified but has yet to be dealt with.
Matthews was found with 24 wraps of cocaine, totalling 2.90 grams, and 1.94 grams of heroin split into 18 wraps.
The defendant has three previous convictions for eight offences and was released from jail for robbery in January.
Peter De Feu, defending, said his client, of no fixed address, was born and brought up in Oxford.
He said Matthews had learning difficulties and was “quite obviously of low intelligence”.
He said: “He does not claim to be a drug addict. His difficulty, if he has one, is not being able to fight his corner verbally or intellectually.”
Mr De Feu said Matthews came from a supportive family with a mother studying for a qualification at Oxford Brookes University and a brother in full-time employment.
He said his client had been attacked in Bullingdon Prison while awaiting sentence.
Judge Patrick Eccles told Matthews: “Your record is not a long one but it does consist of some serious offences.
“You are in real danger of spending really long periods of your life in prison if you continue in this way.”
Comments(51)
brained assassin
says...
1:14pm Tue 1 May 12
Ab Boy wrote:We can tell.
DUUUUUUUUUH
I AM REALLY THICK I AM!!!!
Tiger1ily
says...
1:29pm Tue 1 May 12
Dilligaf2010
says...
1:57pm Tue 1 May 12
.....well they've obviously not been doing a very good job then, he's got 3 previous convictions for 8 offences, and is of no fixed abode, how are they supporting him?
morgeo
says...
2:21pm Tue 1 May 12
online_reader
says...
2:26pm Tue 1 May 12
morgeo wrote:"Peter De Feu, defending, said his client, of no fixed address, was born and brought up in Oxford." Why do you think he's an immigrant? Is it because he is black?
If he is an immigrant then deport him. There are too many lowlife people just flouting the law and they should be dealt with or it will get worse. If it is a family thing deport them all and make an example of them as you don't want to deny them their human rights and family life do you ? Otherwise just triple the penalty next time and make him work for his keep.
J B Blackett
says...
2:52pm Tue 1 May 12
morgeo
says...
3:13pm Tue 1 May 12
Read what I said again and don't jump to conclusions.
I said "If he is an immigrant"
I don't care if he is yellow, black or white, people like that need to be dealt with severely.
John Lamb
says...
3:19pm Tue 1 May 12
Supportive, in this case, means saying the right things while the authorities are still in earshot.
A34North
says...
3:33pm Tue 1 May 12
Ab Boy wrote:You really should not do yourself down. Have you a lack of confidence?
DUUUUUUUUUH
I AM REALLY THICK I AM!!!!
A34North
says...
3:47pm Tue 1 May 12
morgeo wrote:It quite clearly states he was born in and raised in Oxford'
online reader said " Why do you think he's an immigrant? Is it because he is black?”
Read what I said again and don't jump to conclusions.
I said "If he is an immigrant"
I don't care if he is yellow, black or white, people like that need to be dealt with severely.
'Peter De Feu, defending, said his client, of no fixed address, was born and brought up in Oxford'.
Online Reader was right to point this out and nobody has jumped to conclusions other than you. Why would you think he is an immigrant, have you based your 'assumption' on the colour of his skin?
morgeo
says...
4:28pm Tue 1 May 12
I won't jump to conclusions and say that the family are probably all involved and all drug users which a supportive family into drugs would be. We are left to draw our own conclusions and Peter De Feu would naturally try to show him as Mr Nice Guy but his record does'nt support that.
xjohnx
says...
4:44pm Tue 1 May 12
Pity about all the smart b*******s
A34North
says...
4:48pm Tue 1 May 12
morgeo wrote:I recognise the ability for someone to acknowledge a mistake and apologise and I am sure that Online Reader would comment the same. Thank you.
I accept your criticism and apologise. I had misread the article and thought it said "of no fixed address and brought up in Oxford" Nevertheless , as a British citizen he should be dealt with severely as this type of crime is unforgiveable.
I won't jump to conclusions and say that the family are probably all involved and all drug users which a supportive family into drugs would be. We are left to draw our own conclusions and Peter De Feu would naturally try to show him as Mr Nice Guy but his record does'nt support that.
morgeo
says...
4:56pm Tue 1 May 12
J B Blackett
says...
4:58pm Tue 1 May 12
.
But if he is rather uneducated , he (and his supportive family) should not allowed him to be used by others ('The Mister Bigs') who are merely exploiting his pathetic situation just to make money.
.
Otherwise he appears to be is a repeat offender (even recidivist) with no prospects and a very bleak future.
.
This chap may be a fly (one of many) in the ointment , but the evil drug suppliers are the real slimy money-grubbing villains who mean nobody any good even him - as he is regarded as totally expendable by them.
.
He might be better off in prison for his own sake and ours.
A34North
says...
5:09pm Tue 1 May 12
Dilligaf2010
says...
5:13pm Tue 1 May 12
morgeo wrote:Yes, but we all know who Mr. Nice Guy was don't we, Howard Marks :)
I accept your criticism and apologise. I had misread the article and thought it said "of no fixed address and brought up in Oxford" Nevertheless , as a British citizen he should be dealt with severely as this type of crime is unforgiveable.
I won't jump to conclusions and say that the family are probably all involved and all drug users which a supportive family into drugs would be. We are left to draw our own conclusions and Peter De Feu would naturally try to show him as Mr Nice Guy but his record does'nt support that.
J B Blackett
says...
5:24pm Tue 1 May 12
.
The more money you give them , the harder they might try. Don't expect Justice in the hands of these people - just 'The Law'.
.
Some of the not-so-good ones become not-so-good politicians and end up buying expensive houses in Oxfordshire , Bucks and Hampshire and other affluent areas.
.
That's after the ex-lawyers have made up lots of stupid pointless anti-people laws to suit their legal mates so all of them are very happy - that's the way this country works nowadays - even other countries' lawyers are telling us we can and can't do.
.
Is there no limit to these self-serving parasites ? Well not at the moment - they seem breed like flies causing distress to anybody they alight on. That's after they've visited all the diseased evil-smelling places they feed and lay their eggs in. Then they land on you to suck all your vital juices.
.
They are worse than vampires as there appear to millions of the lying money-grubbing scummy creatures. Scary or what ?
waylander2
says...
5:49pm Tue 1 May 12
"But then CCTV is not needed in Oxford IS IT and does NO GOOD does it"
A Scroat
says...
8:50pm Tue 1 May 12
J B Blackett wrote:It's another bloody cod. The Happy Cod have a lot to answer for.
It might be the climate change thing (allegedly)
J B Blackett
says...
9:13pm Tue 1 May 12
.
Most of their life in spent in terror of being torn to pieces eaten or a big hook in the mouth then being boiled in toxic trans fat oil.
.
Why should they be happy ? Is it because the Great Cod God told all the shoals to be cheerful and to sacrifice their miserable finful lives for the benefit of the rich religious organizations that thrive in abundance in the cold damp sad places in the turbulent sea ?
.
I myself have never seen a happy cod. Never.
Dilligaf2010
says...
9:34pm Tue 1 May 12
I have the OM and BBC News on RSS feeds to MS Outlook, but despite a seemingly heinous crime being committed in The Head of the River, last night, I've seen nothing reported.
I've no idea what was happening, but from what I could hear, some people had gone in there with microphones and musical instruments, and whenever they tried to use them, somebody was either stabbing them, or strangling them, I'd never heard anything so horrific in my life.
Does anybody have any idea what was occurring?
Milkbutnosugarplease
says...
9:46pm Tue 1 May 12
DoctorBob
says...
11:11pm Tue 1 May 12
Milkbutnosugarplease wrote:In that case you should avoid all contact with every hue, culture or country's citizens just in case.
This makes Big Issue sellers look bad, as one reportedly acted as go-between in a drug deal. It confirms my suspicions of them, which is doubtless unfair but I'll still walk on by just in case...
What bizarre logic you employ.
DoctorBob
says...
11:13pm Tue 1 May 12
Milkbutnosugarplease wrote:It confirms my suspicions of you, which is doubtless fair and I'll walk on by just in case...
This makes Big Issue sellers look bad, as one reportedly acted as go-between in a drug deal. It confirms my suspicions of them, which is doubtless unfair but I'll still walk on by just in case...
J B Blackett
says...
11:39pm Tue 1 May 12
Dilligaf2010 wrote:I think you may have heard the East Oxford Morris Men practicing. They are not very well rehearsed yet and sometimes a the stick work is a bit mistimed causing multiple injuries to occur and blood to flow.
Nothing to do with this article, but probably something even worse.
I have the OM and BBC News on RSS feeds to MS Outlook, but despite a seemingly heinous crime being committed in The Head of the River, last night, I've seen nothing reported.
I've no idea what was happening, but from what I could hear, some people had gone in there with microphones and musical instruments, and whenever they tried to use them, somebody was either stabbing them, or strangling them, I'd never heard anything so horrific in my life.
Does anybody have any idea what was occurring?
.
The accordion player's not very good either - it does sometimes sound a bit strangulated. May I ask you all to , please , show a bit of tolerance to these pathetic yet despised antisocial creatures.
Dilligaf2010
says...
6:29am Wed 2 May 12
J B Blackett wrote:No, these individuals had guitars, drums, possibly even a keyboard, although I could've heard the beginnings of Armageddon.
Dilligaf2010 wrote:I think you may have heard the East Oxford Morris Men practicing. They are not very well rehearsed yet and sometimes a the stick work is a bit mistimed causing multiple injuries to occur and blood to flow.
Nothing to do with this article, but probably something even worse.
I have the OM and BBC News on RSS feeds to MS Outlook, but despite a seemingly heinous crime being committed in The Head of the River, last night, I've seen nothing reported.
I've no idea what was happening, but from what I could hear, some people had gone in there with microphones and musical instruments, and whenever they tried to use them, somebody was either stabbing them, or strangling them, I'd never heard anything so horrific in my life.
Does anybody have any idea what was occurring?
.
The accordion player's not very good either - it does sometimes sound a bit strangulated. May I ask you all to , please , show a bit of tolerance to these pathetic yet despised antisocial creatures.
A Scroat
says...
9:30am Wed 2 May 12
cynicality
says...
12:10pm Wed 2 May 12
Dilligaf2010 wrote:I think they were also playing during the day in Cowley Centre on Saturday - people were flinching and children were crying at the assault on their eardrums - the vocalist only hit one correct note in 100 ...
J B Blackett wrote:No, these individuals had guitars, drums, possibly even a keyboard, although I could've heard the beginnings of Armageddon.
Dilligaf2010 wrote:I think you may have heard the East Oxford Morris Men practicing. They are not very well rehearsed yet and sometimes a the stick work is a bit mistimed causing multiple injuries to occur and blood to flow.
Nothing to do with this article, but probably something even worse.
I have the OM and BBC News on RSS feeds to MS Outlook, but despite a seemingly heinous crime being committed in The Head of the River, last night, I've seen nothing reported.
I've no idea what was happening, but from what I could hear, some people had gone in there with microphones and musical instruments, and whenever they tried to use them, somebody was either stabbing them, or strangling them, I'd never heard anything so horrific in my life.
Does anybody have any idea what was occurring?
.
The accordion player's not very good either - it does sometimes sound a bit strangulated. May I ask you all to , please , show a bit of tolerance to these pathetic yet despised antisocial creatures.
sparky123456
says...
2:15pm Wed 2 May 12
Darkforbid
says...
9:49pm Wed 2 May 12
LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG
says...
10:20pm Wed 2 May 12
Average of 0.1g per wrap, he should be jailed for life, and so should his customers for being so stooopid.
LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG
says...
10:22pm Wed 2 May 12
DoctorBob wrote:Not really Dr Robert, just the low life scum milk described.
Milkbutnosugarplease wrote:In that case you should avoid all contact with every hue, culture or country's citizens just in case.
This makes Big Issue sellers look bad, as one reportedly acted as go-between in a drug deal. It confirms my suspicions of them, which is doubtless unfair but I'll still walk on by just in case...
What bizarre logic you employ.
mandate
says...
1:14am Thu 3 May 12
The upper/ruling class maintain total power over the population by passing and imposing laws that suppress the working class.
This effectively keeps the working class in check. Those unlucky enough not to consent to this form of slavery are deemed to be of no use to society and are incarcerated.
These laws are empowered by a middle class who are effectively just lackeys to the ruling class.
The lad in this article has been deemed to be of no use to the ruling class (he is of no financial gain to them). Hence instead of offering him help, he will just be sent to prison.
This is the system. Can anybody see the obvious flaws in the British class system and it's suppressive laws?
Alfie Nokes
says...
8:27am Thu 3 May 12
DoctorBob
says...
12:03pm Thu 3 May 12
LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG wrote:Are people that have fought for our country "low life scum" in your eyes Peter?
DoctorBob wrote:Not really Dr Robert, just the low life scum milk described.
Milkbutnosugarplease wrote:In that case you should avoid all contact with every hue, culture or country's citizens just in case.
This makes Big Issue sellers look bad, as one reportedly acted as go-between in a drug deal. It confirms my suspicions of them, which is doubtless unfair but I'll still walk on by just in case...
What bizarre logic you employ.
Steve31E
says...
4:56pm Fri 4 May 12
why is it still possible to make comment on this post from May 1st (4 days later) - but all comments hae been stopped on Dr Julia Gaspars comments on homosexuality and paedophilia only ONE day later (suprisingly there were no comments listed) ?
Is this a type of censorship?
why can we not comment ??
LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG
says...
10:43pm Fri 4 May 12
Dilligaf2010 wrote:That was John Otway mate. A legend in his own lunchtime.
Nothing to do with this article, but probably something even worse.
I have the OM and BBC News on RSS feeds to MS Outlook, but despite a seemingly heinous crime being committed in The Head of the River, last night, I've seen nothing reported.
I've no idea what was happening, but from what I could hear, some people had gone in there with microphones and musical instruments, and whenever they tried to use them, somebody was either stabbing them, or strangling them, I'd never heard anything so horrific in my life.
Does anybody have any idea what was occurring?
Dilligaf2010
says...
1:58am Sat 5 May 12
LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG wrote:Really?
Dilligaf2010 wrote:That was John Otway mate. A legend in his own lunchtime.
Nothing to do with this article, but probably something even worse.
I have the OM and BBC News on RSS feeds to MS Outlook, but despite a seemingly heinous crime being committed in The Head of the River, last night, I've seen nothing reported.
I've no idea what was happening, but from what I could hear, some people had gone in there with microphones and musical instruments, and whenever they tried to use them, somebody was either stabbing them, or strangling them, I'd never heard anything so horrific in my life.
Does anybody have any idea what was occurring?
Wow, that's really free. (almost) ;)
DoctorBob
says...
12:13pm Sat 5 May 12
Alexpearly
says...
4:42pm Sat 5 May 12
Dilligaf2010
says...
5:35pm Sat 5 May 12
Alexpearly wrote:"Peter De Feu, defending, said his client, of no fixed address, was born and brought up in Oxford."......
Ben is a victim of circumstance who does come from a loving and supportive family in which he was a caring and supportive member himself. This sentence is ridiculously long and means he has less of a chance of getting his life back together when he is free. Its hard enough for his family, to have to live without him knowing he's in a prison where he will learn more about crime than about how to live on the outside. As a community we need to take more responsibilty for every individual and show more compassion when things don't go well.
........"no fixed address".....so how come his loving and supporting family, that he was a member of, was homeless?
Alexpearly
says...
7:13pm Sat 5 May 12
Dilligaf2010
says...
7:42pm Sat 5 May 12
Alexpearly wrote:He wasn't the one selling The Big Issue, he was merely dealing with the seller's help.
A person may have a family that will always put him/her up but in order to qualify for housing, 'need' to be homeless. Being 'of no fixed abode' means a whole host of situations. They have to sell papers afterall
A34North
says...
10:16pm Sat 5 May 12
Dilligaf2010 wrote:Dilly, that is a play on words. You know full well that the lad was homeless and not his family. Shame on you Dilly.
Alexpearly wrote:"Peter De Feu, defending, said his client, of no fixed address, was born and brought up in Oxford."......
Ben is a victim of circumstance who does come from a loving and supportive family in which he was a caring and supportive member himself. This sentence is ridiculously long and means he has less of a chance of getting his life back together when he is free. Its hard enough for his family, to have to live without him knowing he's in a prison where he will learn more about crime than about how to live on the outside. As a community we need to take more responsibilty for every individual and show more compassion when things don't go well.
........"no fixed address".....so how come his loving and supporting family, that he was a member of, was homeless?
Question Dilly, have you got the little bits of paper that confirms you really are a 'Qualified Youth Worker'?
LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG
says...
4:13am Sun 6 May 12
DoctorBob wrote:Yes if they were the kind that used various implements to do unpleasant things to prisoners of war, but as we all know our lads are no different to any other countries lads, and in the Yanks case Lassies. No avoiding the question Dr Robert. But then maybe you agree with torture?
An uncomfortable question Peter decides to avoid answering. Well I never!
LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG
says...
4:14am Sun 6 May 12
DoctorBob wrote:Yes if they were the kind that used various implements to do unpleasant things to prisoners of war, but as we all know our lads are no different to any other countries lads, and in the Yanks case Lassies. No avoiding the question Dr Robert. But then maybe you agree with torture?
An uncomfortable question Peter decides to avoid answering. Well I never!
LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG
says...
4:16am Sun 6 May 12
Alexpearly wrote:Isn't that fraud, claiming to be in a position that you are not?
A person may have a family that will always put him/her up but in order to qualify for housing, 'need' to be homeless. Being 'of no fixed abode' means a whole host of situations. They have to sell papers afterall
Dilligaf2010
says...
6:06am Sun 6 May 12
A34North wrote:I've just re-read what I'd typed, it certainly isn't what I meant to type.
Dilligaf2010 wrote:Dilly, that is a play on words. You know full well that the lad was homeless and not his family. Shame on you Dilly.
Alexpearly wrote:"Peter De Feu, defending, said his client, of no fixed address, was born and brought up in Oxford."......
Ben is a victim of circumstance who does come from a loving and supportive family in which he was a caring and supportive member himself. This sentence is ridiculously long and means he has less of a chance of getting his life back together when he is free. Its hard enough for his family, to have to live without him knowing he's in a prison where he will learn more about crime than about how to live on the outside. As a community we need to take more responsibilty for every individual and show more compassion when things don't go well.
........"no fixed address".....so how come his loving and supporting family, that he was a member of, was homeless?
Question Dilly, have you got the little bits of paper that confirms you really are a 'Qualified Youth Worker'?
As for certificates etc., I have almost nothing pertaining to my life prior to 2005, not even my birth certificate.
lfcaware
says...
5:00pm Mon 7 May 12
Dilligaf2010 wrote:Nothing occured. Your on drugs. clown.
Nothing to do with this article, but probably something even worse.
I have the OM and BBC News on RSS feeds to MS Outlook, but despite a seemingly heinous crime being committed in The Head of the River, last night, I've seen nothing reported.
I've no idea what was happening, but from what I could hear, some people had gone in there with microphones and musical instruments, and whenever they tried to use them, somebody was either stabbing them, or strangling them, I'd never heard anything so horrific in my life.
Does anybody have any idea what was occurring?
Ab Boy says...
1:03pm Tue 1 May 12
I AM REALLY THICK I AM!!!!