Grieving family calls for tougher drug laws

Kieron Hilling, 18, died at Ipswich Hospital on 28 February

The family of a teenager, whose death they believe was caused by illegally obtained prescription drugs, say they want dealers to face tougher charges.

Kieron Hilling, 18, from Ipswich, had taken morphine and the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam, his family believe.

In cases where people die after taking drugs, they want anyone supplying them illegally to face manslaughter charges, saying: "Something needs to happen in the law; something needs to change."

The Home Office said it was working to tackle the illegal supply and misuse of drugs.

Kieron Hilling had been a promising young footballer, his brother Connor Hickman said

Mr Hilling, a pupil at Copleston High School, Ipswich, was found unresponsive in bed on the afternoon of 27 February.

He was taken to Ipswich Hospital, but his family said his life support machine was switched off the next day.

No post-mortem examination has yet been carried out, and no date set for any inquest.

Suffolk Police said: "Following the death of an 18-year old male from Ipswich, police are conducting inquiries on behalf of the coroner."

Mr Hilling's family said they believed he had been using drugs recreationally in the weeks before his death, and had tried to talk to him about it.

They believe they know who supplied the drugs and said they had passed that information to police.

Mr Hickman said he had a "hole in his heart" following his brother's death

His brother Connor Hickman, 23, said Mr Hilling had many friends, most of whom were supportive and a positive influence.

However, he said one person had dragged him "into worlds unknown".

"Something needs to happen in the law; something needs to change," he said.

"Why can't these people who are giving out the drugs go down for it; for the death of people they have killed?

"They don't give a care in the world what happens; they just want their money."

He said he did not know how the substances were obtained, but believed the issue of prescription drugs was overlooked and wanted a greater focus on the problem.

"We know it's hard. Sometimes there isn't anyone to go to; sometimes people need an escape," he said.

"Life is hard. Not everyone can handle the stuff that's thrown at you."

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line.

He said his brother had been "a very cheeky little boy; very loud, very proud".

He had been a promising footballer, and had clubs trying to sign him for their youth teams, but ended up "falling out of it", he said.

Mr Hickman said about 50 people had visited to pay tribute to his brother, with many laying flowers.

He said the family had been trying to come to terms with Mr Hilling's death.

"We're not going to be the same again, that's for sure - we're just very different people now," he said.

The government website says people can face charges for taking, carrying, making, selling, dealing or sharing drugs.

However, on the issue of pressing charges in relation to causing death, criminal barrister Simon Spence KC, of Red Lion Chambers, said: "The difficulty is proving causation if the taking of the drugs was a voluntary act.

"It would be different if the dealer physically administered the drugs that caused death."

Mr Hilling's family said they did not believe he had been forced to take anything.

Robin Pivett, of Suffolk Police, said some medicines could be "counterfeit" and untested.

Robin Pivett, a controlled drug liaison officer at Suffolk Police, said he believed people were buying prescription medicines online from unlicensed pharmacies.

"What people don't realise is the harm and dangers that some of this stuff can cause," he said.

Sometimes the medications could be "counterfeit" and untested, so people would not know how strong they were, he said.

Mr Pivett said finding the people who sold drugs illegally was more challenging now, as much of it was organised online.

"We could deal with dealers, as they were generally dealing in pubs, clubs and on the street. Now we're faced with the internet; very difficult to police."

He said websites were taken down but "within a week, they'll be up and running again with a changed name".

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Every drug-related death is a tragedy for those who have lost their lives, their families and for their wider communities.

"We will continue our engagement with partners across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug misuse and the illegal supply of drugs, and move forward with our mission to make streets safer."