Teenagers sentenced for supplying drugs which caused the death of 15-year-old Leah Heyes in Northallerton

A judge issued a stern and despondent warning to young people getting involved in drugs today (Monday) as he sentenced 18-year-old Connor Kirkwood and Mitchell Southern, 19, following the "absolutely tragic" death of Leah Heyes in Northallerton last year.

The teenager had met with friends at Applegarth car park on May 11, 2019, when she was given the ecstasy by Southern after acquiring it from "active street dealer" Kirkwood.

A court heard how Southern, who was 18 at the time, had told Ms Heyes and a friend they were "going to get f***ed up on this" as he passed them the ecstasy "bombs".

A judge told Southern that, despite not gaining financially from passing them the drugs, that he had been "basking in the bravado" and showing off.

Some time after taking it, it was heard how Leah began to react badly and became "volatile and unpredictable" before collapsing.

Her mother Kerry Roberts, who was three months pregnant at the time, was called and Leah was rushed to hospital where tragically she passed away later that evening.

An inquest held last week heard how Leah had died of cardiac arrest.

Kirkwood, 18, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, namely the MDMA that killed Leah and cocaine which he had supplied to another young person at the gathering.

Southern, 19, also admitted one count of possession with intent to supply.

Teesside Crown Court heard both had been incredibly remorseful over what had happened, with defence counsel for Southern revealing his parents had "thrown him out" after finding out his involvement.

Kirkwood, of Lynx Lane, Dishforth Airfield, had been at the bottom of a pyramid dealing drugs for financial gain after being groomed, his barrister Helen Chapman said.

Sentencing the two, His Honour Judge Jonathan Carroll said: "This case is tragic, totally tragic. First and foremost, tragic for Leah Heyes – she was just 15-years-old.

"She had everything to live for. The excitement which is rightfully held by young people in anticipation of their futures. A younger sister on the way that she did not get to meet.

"All that hope and aspiration for the future extinguished because of the evil drugs represent in our society. First and foremost, she needs to be remembered."

Judge Carroll added that it had become "fashionable" and often regarded among young people that drugs were "fine" and that they do not cause serious harm.

"This case is here to remind anyone (that might think that) that drugs destroy lives. They take away young people's lives, and they destroy your lives and your futures, also.

"There is no safe drug, there is no safe amount of that drug and anybody who thinks otherwise is just wrong."

The judge said he had been "equally saddened" at hearing that, of all the people who had been at the gathering on the night of Leah's death, "only two" had had the courage to tell police what had happened, adding that that showed drugs "cause people to put their own interests before others'".

Kirkwood was sentenced to 21 months in a young offenders' institute for two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, while Southern, of Dondeen Avenue, Thirsk, received 12 months for one count of the same offence.

Judge Carroll added: "No sentence that I could pass can fix the harm that has been done here. This is no valuation of Leah's life, which was precious to all those who knew her."

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