Scarborough mum jailed for not calling ambulance as daughter lays dying from heroin overdose

Natasha Johnson, 21, died in her mother’s Scarborough flat after being offered the drug despite not being an addict, a court heard.

Her mother Claire Johnson, 41, went to bed after Natasha collapsed on the couch.

Leeds Crown court heard Natasha’s friend Daniel Kedge, 41, went out to buy drugs and took heroin before allowing Natasha to inject herself.

The drug had an immediate effect on Natasha and she collapsed and began struggling for breath.

She was helped on to a sofa and put in the recovery position before her mother went to bed leaving her daughter unresponsive on the sofa.

Hours later, Johnson went downstairs and put a towel over Natasha. Later that morning she returned downstairs to find her daughter dead.

A medical expert concluded that had immediate medical assistance been sought, Natasha’s chances of survival would have been high.

Det Sgt Jonathan Sygrove, of Scarborough CID, said: “Claire Johnson had a duty of care to Natasha which she quite clearly breached when she failed to call an ambulance for her when she collapsed after taking heroin.

“It must have been obvious that Natasha was in urgent need of medical attention when she collapsed and became unresponsive, and Johnson has never given a proper explanation as to why she didn’t get help.

“This was a tragic end to a young life which could most probably have been avoided if the person who was with Natasha in her hour of need had acted in a correct and responsible manner.”

Mr Sygrove added: “If someone you are with has taken drugs and is showing signs of overdose, it is important to call an ambulance straight away.

“You shouldn’t worry about the police attending, the ambulance staff will only call officers if there are any suspicious circumstances or if they require our support.

“Time is a crucial factor in overdose cases and any delay in calling for medical assistance could be the difference between life and death.”

Johnson, of Market Way, Scarborough, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting manslaughter by gross negligence. Kedge was cleared of manslaughter but convicted of supplying Class A drugs and jailed for 16 months.