Woman supplied drug that left friends 'comatose' during Kirkby house fire

A woman who was addicted to powerful tranquilisers sold some to her friends which left them ‘comatose’ when a fire broke out in their Kirkby home, a court has heard.
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Firefighters were called to the address on May 25 last year where they found two adults ‘non-responsive’ after ‘an item caught fire on the hob’, said prosecutor Sanjay Jerath.

Police examined one woman's phone and found Facebook messages from her friend, Jenna Taylor, about the supply of Xanax.

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Taylor initially declined to comment, but later admitted giving the tablets to her friend and said she bought them off a Kirkby dealer who she refused to name.

Jenna Taylor admitted giving tablets to her friend. Image for illustration only.Jenna Taylor admitted giving tablets to her friend. Image for illustration only.
Jenna Taylor admitted giving tablets to her friend. Image for illustration only.

"She told officers she didn't mean for her friends to fall asleep and nearly die," Mr Jerath said. "She supplied drugs to two people who were found comatose and placed them at risk."

Abbie Edwards, mitigating, said Taylor has no previous convictions but last year ‘went off the rails’ after ‘traumatic life events’.

"She became very depressed and turned to alcohol and cannabis," she said. "She was told by a friend that Xanax helped with insomnia.

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"She wanted to help her friends who were struggling with sleep issues.

"She only charged a nominal amount and there's no suggestion of any wider dealing. She was selling the drug that she was addicted to."

Ms Edwards described Taylor's arrest as ‘a wake up call’, and added: "She has worked with Change Grow Live and hasn't had a drink this year.”

Probation officer Mark Burton said the consequences ‘could have been horrendous’ and ‘that was not lost on Taylor’.

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"Her own journey into using Xanax has been a sad one,” he said. “She was getting her advice from people involved in illegal activity and other drug users.

"She says she has no recollection of posting the messages and advertising herself as someone who could supply drugs.”

Taylor, 21, formerly of Cookson Street, Kirkby, and now of Townsend Court, Nottingham, admitted being concerned in the supply of Class C drugs when she appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court on Thursday.

She received a 15-month community order, with 25 rehabilition days and 60 hours of unpaid work.

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