Mum and sister confront dealers who supplied drugs that killed 16-year-old

A mum and sister have bravely spoken in court about the devastating impact they have suffered after a teenager died when she took an MDMA.

Lucy Hill, 16, was at an alcohol-free young persons’ nightclub event at Move in Exeter when she was sold the drug by Taylor Rowsell, 18.

He got ecstasy from James Greaves, 19, who supplied them despite expressing concerns about their potency.

As the pair were jailed, Lucy’s sister Chloe confronted them, expressing what impact her sibling’s death had had upon her.

She said: ‘No day gets any easier nor does the pain ever fade. I would do anything to have Lucy back by my side. Life is so hard without Lucy. I lost my best friend. My heart aches and the loss never leaves my mind. I miss doing everything with you.

‘Every court date has been a hurdle in our journey of healing, a hurdle that takes us all back to the unforgivable night you both supplied the drug to Lucy.

‘Our lives have changed in ways you’ll never feel because of the decisions you both chose to make; I now have to live a life without my little sister because of the path you both chose to take.

‘Not only have your actions and decisions taken Lucy away from this world but you’ve also robbed me of my life. A life without Lucy by my side.’

Judge James Adkin at Exeter Crown Court said Rowsell and Greaves were motivated by greed, making £350 from selling the class A drug to children, including Lucy and her friends.

Debbie, Lucy’s mum, said: ‘To lose your daughter, that’s just the most awful thing that could happen to anybody. I just wish I could have her back.

‘Our lives have now completely changed forever. We’ve lost our beautiful little girl. It’s just devastating for us all, for Chloe, her sister, her dad, Chris.

‘What has happened has left the biggest hole in my heart that I know will never heal.

‘Lucy was the most kind and caring person, and so sweet-natured. I cling onto memories of her.

‘I will never be able to give her a hug again, never ask her how her day’s been, how school was that day. Everything’s just been taken away from us and I can never more be part of her life.’

Jailing Greaves for over three years and Rowsell for two, Judge Adkin told them: ‘Your involvement was through immaturity, yes, to an extent, but you threw yourself into a drug dealing business for the status and money.

‘This was not a one-off, you had been dealing for months, you sold to children.

‘Lucy Hill died because you sold her drugs, you sold her two tablets despite the fact that you were concerned about the dosage.

‘It seems to me you were simply greedy, and your greed for money was greater than your concern for any customer.’

He added that Greaves played a ‘leading role’ in the ‘organising, buying and selling (of drugs) on a commercial scale’ and that he knew Rowsell was selling to children.

Detective Inspector Sally Johns, said that Lucy was not a ‘routine drug user.’

He said: ‘That evening an error of judgement in young minds led to Lucy’s future being cut short. This could be the case for anyone’s child or young adult.

‘We have seen that these substances can kill many times, and this is another tragic case.

‘You don’t know what illegal drugs contain or what reaction you may have to them – but it could be fatal. I urge anyone considering taking drugs to think twice and reconsider.’

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