Man jailed after teenager, 15, died from MDMA

A drug dealer involved in the supply of the MDMA which caused the death of a 15-year-old boy has been jailed.

Joshua Reeson died in York in September 2020 after taking ecstasy, with two other boys also taken ill.

Following an investigation into his death, Alexander Payne, 20, was arrested and later charged with conspiracy to supply MDMA and cocaine, as well as conspiracy to supply and produce tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical found in cannabis.

Payne, of Overdale Road, Middlesbrough, was jailed for four and a half years at York Crown Court, having admitted the offences at a previous hearing.

Speaking after the sentencing Det Insp Nichola Holden said: "We would urge anyone who is involved in this type of criminality to look at the death of Joshua and ask the question, is it worth it?

"The use of drugs in York and North Yorkshire will not be tolerated and we will continue with our fight to take drugs off the streets to prevent any further tragic incidents of this nature."

Three other people arrested in the wake of Joshua's death, were also sentenced on Thursday.

Sian Roe, 37, and Jay Baxter, 22, of York, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis.

Roe received an 18 month community order and 80 hours unpaid work, while Baxter was handed an 18 month community order, 100 hours unpaid work and a 25-day rehabilitation order.

Joseph Gilchrest, 21, of Cherry Wood Crescent, York, also pleaded guilty to failing to disclose a passcode to allow investigators access to a device.

He was sentenced to eight months in prison.

Officers started their investigation into the group after receiving reports three teenagers had been taken to hospital suffering from the effects of a drug overdose on 27 September 2020.

Joshua became ill at a property on Fulford Road, York, and died two days later as a result of taking MDMA.

Inquiries revealed the drugs had been supplied from the Tang Hall area of the city and were bought on the social media app, Snapchat.

Officers attended the property and arrested Payne and Roe, as well as seizing drugs and drugs and drugs paraphernalia worth more than £10,000.

The investigation found some of the drugs paraphernalia had been ordered online and delivered to Baxter at a property in Tang Hall.

A police spokesperson said officers were able to prove all three conspired together to supply and produce illegal drugs, some of which resulted in Joshua's death.

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