Friends escape jail over M-cat drug death of Aimee, 20

The parents of victim Aimee Costello say they hope her death will serve as a warning against the drugs.

Jessica Hooks, 21, and Kirstie McInnes, 22, admitted perverting the course of justice after telling investigating officers Aimee had supplied the drug.

They sobbed in the dock as they were handed prison sentences of ten and six months respectively, both suspended for 18 months, at Leeds Crown Court by Judge Geoffrey Marson QC, who told them: “If ever a case demonstrated the dangerousness of even class B drugs this is it.

“Many people seem to think that drugs like this, of the M-cat genre, are harmless. They are dangerous. And as this case demonstrates they can kill.

“This is a tragedy for Aimee Costello’s family who have been horrifically affected by her death.”

Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, told the court that Hooks’ family had been away, and in the days before April 4, Hooks had received a quantity of M-Cat at her home because she knew the dealer. It was these drugs that Aimee and her friends took.

The court heard that after Aimee collapsed and an ambulance was called, McInnes travelled to the hospital with her.

But later, the court heard, she sent a text to Hooks telling her to get rid of the drugs in the house.

Hooks pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and supplying the class B drug. Her barrister, Richard Reed, said: “These were all young girls who until that day had viewed M-Cat as a party drug and nothing can clearly be further from the truth.

“It’s a hard lesson that has been learnt that will blight her to the end of her days.”

Graham Parkin, for McInnes, who admitted perverting the course of justice and being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug, said she had been Aimee’s best friend.

He said: “She has been taught the dangers and the evils of drugs in the most horrific way.”

A statement released by Aimee’s parents Phillip and Heather after the case said: “We have recently had the first anniversary of our beautiful youngest daughter Aimee and we are still in shock and disbelief that she is gone.

“To say we are devastated is an understatement and the thought that we will never see her again has left us broken.

“The loss of our bright, bubbly and loving girl has ripped our family apart and we, her sisters, and wider family, will never recover from it.”

Chief Inspector Melanie Jones, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “The trauma the Costello family have been through since Aimee’s untimely death is every parents’ worst nightmare.

“Aimee died after taking a drug called M-Cat or Mephedrone as it’s officially known. While this drug was banned by the government in 2010 we are aware that many producers are circumventing the law by slightly altering its chemical composition and selling variations as ‘legal highs’.

“While we are pleased the government has taken steps to stop the sale of this drug the industry that supports its manufacture is fast-moving and is constantly seeking new ways to exploit loopholes in the law and sell the drugs legally.

“With that in mind it remains vital that people are aware of the dangers of association with party drugs and legal highs.”