Halifax toddler finds sedative tablets inside '˜Minions' Easter egg

A mother in West Yorkshire says her son opened a chocolate egg expecting to find a toy inside, but discovered six tablets.
A little boy opened a chocolate egg expecting to find a toy inside - but discovered six tablets. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyA little boy opened a chocolate egg expecting to find a toy inside - but discovered six tablets. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
A little boy opened a chocolate egg expecting to find a toy inside - but discovered six tablets. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Riley Apps, two, had enjoyed the Minions-themed egg and was struggling to open the plastic toy container so took it to his mother, Sophie Brown, 22.

She was horrified when she discovered four colourful capsules and two white tablets marked with ‘MDZ’ - later suspected to be palliative care sedatives.

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Ms Brown took the tablets to the police and informed the small independent shop where she bought them.

Sophie Brown with her son, Riley Apps. Picture: Ross Parry AgencySophie Brown with her son, Riley Apps. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Sophie Brown with her son, Riley Apps. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Officers have now confirmed the tablets were “over-the-counter medication” and are investigating how they got into the egg.

Ms Brown, from Halifax, said: “He came running through and said ‘mummy can you open it’ because he had tried and wasn’t able to.

“I look down and it contained six tablets.

“I’m told that the one with MDZ on the side it used in palliative care and it is given to patients to make them more comfortable and relaxed.

Sophie Brown with her son, Riley Apps. Picture: Ross Parry AgencySophie Brown with her son, Riley Apps. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Sophie Brown with her son, Riley Apps. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
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“The other one could be Tramadol - that’s what somebody told me when I put it on Facebook.

“A nurse messaged to say that it he had taken both he would more or less have been in a coma or worse off.

“When I saw them I couldn’t believe it. I wrapped them up and took them to the police.

“If he had been able to open it himself it could have been lethal.”

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Ms Brown’s partner, Ian King, 23, took Riley to the shop and returned with the egg. It is believed to be a fake Minions brand - but the couple thought it was an official Kinder Egg product.

Ms Brown added: “I’m just glad that Riley came and asked me to open it. Usually he will just play with the little toy himself. I usually think that I can leave him with it and not worry.

“He is always excited about what little toy he will find. didn’t know what they were.

“The police took them and said they would be tested. They were just as shocked as me. I spoke to the shopkeeper and he was horrified.

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“He’s at that age where he would have definitely tried eating them. It’s really, really frightening.

“I just want to warn other parents. They might give it to their child and not think and I just want to urge them to watch their children when they open the egg.”

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said an investigation was underway.

He said: “Tests have been conducted on the substances found within the confectionery product.

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“The substances were found to be over-the-counter medication.”

Inspector Colin Skeath of Halifax Neighbourhood Policing Team added: “This appears to be an isolated incident and our enquiries are ongoing to determine how the medication came to be within the confectionery item.”