Girl, 13, supplied fatal drugs

Michael Edwards died after a house party in May

A 13-year-old who supplied her mother's prescription drugs to a teenager who later died has been sentenced to a two-year supervision order.

The girl had earlier admitted supplying morphine and diazepam to 16-year-old Michael Edwards at a house party.

Her mother, who suffers health problems and is prescribed medication, was in hospital at the time, Swansea Crown Court heard.

The girl, from Ceredigion, was 12 at the time of the incident on 3 May.

On Friday, the court heard how she took the drugs from a kitchen cupboard and supplied them to older teenagers at a house in a bid to impress them.

If you were an adult you would be going to prison, but you are 13 Judge Christopher Morton

Michael Edwards was later pronounced dead at the scene and three girls, including the 13-year-old defendant, were taken to hospital.

Sentencing the girl, Judge Christopher Morton told her: "If you were an adult you would be going to prison, but you are 13."

Earlier, prosecutor Chris Clee said Michael had taken an overdose of morphine and a high acute dose of diazepam and the combined effect was fatal.

Remorse

Paul Hobson, defending, said the girl's decision to plead guilty showed "considerable bravery."

"She has accepted responsibility for her part in an incident that had the worst consequence imaginable."

Mr Hobson said her reaction was one of remorse, guilt and sadness.

He added: "The family of Michael Edwards and what they have suffered have been uppermost in her mind."

Her actions could be described as "childish" to impress others, many of whom were considerably older, in the context of a party, Mr Hobson said.

"It is deeply unfortunate and perhaps surprising that effective action was not taken by anybody in the house to put a stop to what was going on," he added.

Mr Hobson told the court hat the girl had been brought up in an environment where the consumption of medication in large quantities as a way of life was seen as a benefit. What may appear to be dangerous to others appeared normal to her, he said.

'Deeply distressed'

He said if she had had any appreciation of the dangers, she would not have handed the tablets over.

"Her mother has clearly been deeply distressed by proceedings, especially given the origin of the drugs," he said.

The girl's mother has since installed a lockable safe to store medicines, the court heard.

The youngster sat behind barristers, who had removed their wigs and gowns, instead of in the dock.

The girl pleaded guilty to supplying diamorphine and diazepam to the boy at a hearing at Swansea Crown Court on 2 November. Sentencing had been delayed for reports to be prepared.