A drug dealer has been jailed after his cocaine killed a 16-year-old boy from Wiltshire.
The teenager, who has been named only as Daniel, died after he was supplied the Class A drug by 21-year-old James Willett back in 2023.
Daniel died following complications caused by cocaine toxicity, according to a medical report.
A coroner’s investigation into the boy’s death uncovered text messages between him and Willett, which led to the dealer’s arrest and subsequent charge.
The defendant, of Dines Meadow, Andover, pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of Class A drugs and appeared at Salisbury Crown Court for sentencing on 5 November.
He was jailed for four years and told to pay a surcharge. The court also ruled that £215 in cash be forfeited to charity, and his phones and drugs destroyed.
In a statement released through police, Daniel’s family said: “The loss of Daniel has affected us in so many ways. The wave of emptiness after his death was immense, it felt like everything had come to an unbelievable end.
“Even in the past days, weeks, months, and years we have felt so shallow, broken, and lonely. I fear that these feelings will never disappear. I am glad that this ordeal through court is now over and that he has finally accepted his part in our son’s death.
“Our family can now have some closure and begin to grieve. I would urge parents, other family members, and friends to protect your loved ones from those who seek to harm or exploit them, by assisting the police and to report your concerns to Crimestoppers anonymously.”
Candida Jackson, who was the Local Crime Investigator at the time, said: “This is a tragic case where greed outweighed morality, resulting in Daniel’s death.
“I hope this sentence sends the message that supplying drugs to any person, let alone a young person, is dealt with robustly. I hope that Daniel’s family can now obtain some closure and start their grieving process.”
Detective Constable Martyn Powell, the officer in charge of the case, said: “When dealers supply illegal drugs to another person, they know that they are putting the health and life of that person at risk.
“It may not have been Mr Willett’s intent for the drugs he supplied to kill anyone, but nevertheless he knew that this could have happened. I praise Daniel’s family for the patience that they have shown in waiting for justice to be served.”
