Girl gave ecstasy to classmates

A schoolgirl from Lancashire has been ordered to complete a drug education course after she admitted giving ecstasy tablets to her classmates.

The 14-year-old pleaded guilty on Tuesday to seven counts of possession and supply of the Class A drug.

One pupil ran around "shouting and swearing and being aggressive" after taking the drugs last December, Blackburn Youth Court, heard.

The defendant was given a 12-month referral order.

Another pupil had glazed eyes and began to slur her speech Judy Bolderson, prosecuting

Six children were taken to hospital after the incident, though none suffered lasting damage.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been referred to a youth offender panel under the terms of the referral order. She will be supervised and has to attend panel meetings.

Magistrates ordered her to take a drug education course and her mother must pay £60 legal costs.

Judy Bolderson, prosecuting, told how the girl, who was a pupil at a secondary school in Blackburn, approached a friend during the mid-morning break on 14 December and offered her the pill as a "pain killer that makes you feel happy".

Ms Bolderson said: "(The girl) handed her one of the tablets and swallowed half before she went off to lessons."

She returned at lunchtime with four friends and asked for more tablets.

Defendant expelled

Ms Bolderson told how teachers at the school noticed one of the girls behaving "quite strangely".

She said: "(The victim) had become quite tearful and began to demand to see her mother and father.

"Another pupil had glazed eyes and began to slur her speech."

Police searched the defendant's purse and found a further seven tablets.

The court heard the girl, who had never been in trouble with the police before, has since been expelled from the school.