Teens jailed for supplying drugs which killed Northallerton schoolgirl

Two teenagers have been jailed for supplying Ecstasy, which killed a Fifteen year old Northallerton girl

At Teesside Crown Court Connor Kirkwood, 18, and Mitchell Southern, 19, both pleaded guilty to supplying Ecstasy.

Kirkwood also admitted supplying cocaine.

Schoolgirl Leah Hayes was out with a group of friends when she took the drug at the Applegarth car park in Northallerton on May 11th 2019,

The drugs were brought into Northallerton by Kirkwood, with Southern handing them over to Leah, wrapping them in a cigarette paper to create what is known as a ‘bomb’.

Leah collapsed shortly after taking them, and despite the efforts of medical staff, died later that night at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

A text message on her mobile phone showed that she had arranged to buy £10 worth of the Class A drug, also known as MDMA.

A post-mortem revealed that she had taken two doses and there was evidence of previous cocaine use.

Leah’s mother, Kerry Roberts issued the following statement:

“We miss Leah every day, her death left a huge hole in our lives that can never be filled. No sentence can ever change that, but what we do wish for, is for young people to realise the deadly consequences of taking drugs. That adults are not just saying they are dangerous to spoil your fun, but that you truly understand how dangerous they are. You have your whole life ahead of you, please don’t risk losing it. If Leah’s death has not made you think twice, what will?

“I would not want any other family to go through the devastation of losing a child in such horrendous and needless circumstances. She went out to spend time with her friends and have fun that night. And she never came back. We’ll never see her again, we’ll never speak to her again, her baby sister will never know her.

“To parents I urge you to really know what your children are doing, find out more about the dangers of drugs and don’t think that just because your children tell you they don’t take them, that they really don’t.”

Southern, from Thirsk, was jailed for 12 Months and Kirkwood, from Dishforth, was jailed for 21 Months.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said that there were no safe drugs and no safe amount of drugs, and the courts must send out the message that drugs can of be tolerated.

Detective Inspector Eamonn Clarke of Northallerton CID, said: “Our thoughts remain with Leah’s family at this time. Her death was an absolute tragedy that has left a family devastated and the local community in shock. We plead with parents to make sure they know what their children are doing and to educate them on the harm that drugs can cause, and there is no greater harm than the death of a young person who had her whole life ahead of her.

“North Yorkshire Police continues to prioritise the disruption of drug supply and bring those responsible to justice. We have teams across the county dedicated to disrupting dealers and protecting vulnerable people. Our action is directed by information, and much of that information comes from local communities. So we need the public’s help, we need your information about drugs and drug dealing in your neighbourhood. Please look out for the signs and call the police. If you don’t want to speak to the police you can call Crimestoppers anonymously. No matter how small the piece of information, it will all help to make up a bigger picture, so please call it in.”

If you have concerns about drug use you can find help and support here:

Frank – for honest information about drugs