Police have appealed to the public for information after the tragic death of a teenager this weekend after taking an unknown substance.
A 15 year old girl died and two others, who are believed to have taken the same substance were also taken to Torbay hospital but have since been released.
Police were informed by the ambulance service in the early hours of Saturday morning, 15th July, that they had taken an unconscious 15-year-old girl to Torbay District Hospital. Police attended both the hospital and Bakers Park in Newton Abbot which was where the teenager in question was located. Sadly, the girl later died at hospital. Her next of kin have been informed.
The 15 year old girl who died has been named locally as Leah Kerry. Friends of hers have been paying tribute on social media.
Police have said they are trying by to find the person who supplied the illegal substances.
Detective Superintendent Ken Lamont, said: “We have launched an investigation and are working hard to identify the person responsible for supplying these illegal substances to teenagers in Newton Abbot. But so far, no one has been willing to share this information with us.
“I am appealing to the public to help the police; the type of person who may have supplied new psychoactive substance (NPS) to children isn’t a person to protect. If you know who is responsible you can tell the police, you can also give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“The law changed in May 2016, they are no longer “legal highs”, NPS are illegal and so is the selling and distributing of these drugs. That is why this is a criminal investigation.
“There are many different brands of NPS’ out there, but the one thing we have seen time and time again is no matter the brand, be it Spice or N-Bomb, these substances can kill and we have another tragic case on our hands.
“Talk To Frank is a website that has vital information for people about these type of drugs, and we ask that parents have open and honest conversations with their children about the risks of drugs.
“You don’t know what they contain, and you don’t know the reaction you may have; it could be fatal. I urge anyone considering taking NPS to think twice and reconsider.”
If you have any information that can assist police with their enquiries into this death, please contact 101 or email 101@dc.police.uk quoting log number 220 for the 15th of July.
You can also give information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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