A mother has been found guilty of giving her 15-year-old son prescription drugs that led to his death. Tyler Peck died from an overdose of morphine and Gabapentin at his mother Holly Strawbridge's home in Salcombe, Devon, in February 2019.
Strawbridge, 34, was also convicted of supplying Class-A drugs to another child under 16 and two counts of child cruelty. The jury at Plymouth Crown Court reached a unanimous verdict after six hours of deliberation.
The court heard that Strawbridge was 'drunk off her face' on the night of Tyler's death. A boy who was with Tyler the evening before told police Strawbridge had been putting Oramorph and other drugs into their drinks. Another witness claimed she had been supplying Tyler with drugs for two years.
Tyler's home was described as a place to 'get hammered', and his mother encouraged his drug use, even selling him Valium on one occasion. A witness saw Strawbridge showing Tyler how to snort crushed pills. Tyler had overdosed on Valium in January 2018 and was diagnosed with 'drugs psychosis', but Strawbridge dismissed offers of help from social services.
The judge has ordered pre-sentencing reports and said a prison sentence was inevitable. Strawbridge was granted bail to attend her mother's funeral and will be sentenced on 17 January.
