Individual Sentenced Following 15-Year-Old’s MDMA-Related Death

An individual involved in supplying the MDMA that caused the death of a 15-year-old boy has been incarcerated. Joshua Reeson passed away in York in September 2020 after consuming ecstasy, with two other boys also experiencing illness. Subsequent to an inquiry into his demise, Alexander Payne, 20, was apprehended and later faced charges of conspiracy to supply MDMA and cocaine, as well as conspiracy to supply and produce tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical component of cannabis. Payne, residing at Overdale Road, Middlesbrough, received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence at York Crown Court, having confessed to the offenses at an earlier hearing. Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Nichola Holden stated: “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?” She added: “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 additional individuals, who had been arrested in connection with Joshua’s death, also received sentences on Thursday. Sian Roe, 37, and Jay Baxter, 22, both from York, admitted their guilt to charges of conspiracy to produce cannabis. Roe was given an 18-month community order and 80 hours of unpaid work, while Baxter received an 18-month community order, 100 hours of unpaid work, and a 25-day rehabilitation order. Joseph Gilchrest, 21, of Cherry Wood Crescent, York, similarly pleaded guilty to the offense of failing to disclose a passcode to enable investigators to access a device. An eight-month custodial sentence was imposed upon him. Law enforcement officers initiated their investigation into the group after receiving reports that three teenagers had been hospitalized due to the effects of a drug overdose on 27 September 2020. Joshua fell ill at a property on Fulford Road, York, and succumbed two days later, his death attributed to MDMA consumption. Inquiries revealed that the illicit substances had been supplied from the Tang Hall area of the city and were acquired via the social media application, Snapchat. Officers attended the premises and apprehended Payne and Roe, concurrently confiscating illicit drugs and associated paraphernalia valued in excess of £10,000. The investigation determined that a portion of the drug paraphernalia had been procured online and dispatched to Baxter at an address in Tang Hall. A police spokesperson stated that “officers were able to prove all three conspired together to supply and produce illegal drugs, some of which resulted in Joshua’s death.” For highlights from North Yorkshire, individuals can listen on BBC Sounds, view the most recent episode of Look North, or submit a story for consideration. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.