Newcastle dealer and friend 'responsible' for student death
Mr Pavlovic, from Halifax in West Yorkshire, had just entered the final year of a cybersecurity degree at Northumbria University when he died in the early hours of 4 October 2020, the court heard.
'Hallucinating and hot'
He and friends had been socialising at his shared-flat at the Rialto building on Melbourne Street when Harle, then aged 20, arrived and offered them drugs, prosecutor Jessica Slaughter said.Several people, including Harle, took the MDMA, the court heard.One girl who took the drug said it made her feel "depressed and paranoid" and caused her to vomit, adding it was a "totally different" experience compared to when she used it before, Ms Slaughter said.Mr Pavlovic quickly started acting erratically, the court heard, suffering hallucinations and over-heating.His friends tried to cool him down with wet towels but became increasingly concerned as he was unable to stand or talk coherently, Ms Slaughter said.Paramedics were called and he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 07:23 BST.
'Mourn loss every day'
In statements read to the court, Mr Pavlovic's parents said their son was kind, genuine and had a "wicked sense of humour".His father said they had a "Nathan-shaped hole" in their lives and after his death they shared his money out between his friends which is what he would have wanted.He said his son was "super cautious" and the family would "never know" what was said to him that night to persuade him to take drugs, adding it was "so out of character".Mr Pavlovic's mother said he and his family had been "denied" the joy of many important milestones with him "because another person made a bad decision which ultimately ended our son's life".She said he had been very popular with about 300 people attending his funeral, although many of them had to do so virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions in place."We mourn his loss every minute of every day," she said.
'Wishes he'd died'
In mitigation for Harle, Adrian Strong said that weekend had been one last chance for everyone to socialise before lockdown restrictions were expected to resume.The court heard Harle had since graduated as a nurse working with children and was keen to use his "negative experience" to ensure others did not take drugs.He said Harle accepted both moral and legal responsibility for Mr Pavlovic's death and he would "always regret" his actions, adding: "The death of Nathan is always on his mind.""He wishes quite frankly it had been him that died that night and not [Mr Pavlovic]," Mr Strong said.
Harle gave police the details of his dealer, Ali, 34, who was arrested the following day in his car and found with a haul of MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis worth up to £2,110, Ms Slaughter said.The MDMA was found to have 96% purity, with messages on his phone showing Ali had been selling drugs since 5 September 2020, the court heard. In mitigation, John Crawford said his client had become addicted to drugs after being injured in a machete attack in 2019 and was dealing to pay off debts.
'Prime of life'
Judge Tim Gittins said Mr Pavlovic was "naive" and "wholly inexperienced" in drug use, taking an amount which "would have been a fatal dose for anyone"."It is nothing short of an avoidable tragedy," the judge said, adding both Ali and Harle bore a responsibility in part for the death of the "likeable" and "much-loved young man" at the "prime of his life".The judge said Ali was prepared to sell illegal drugs in lethal quantities while Harle, as a student nurse, "should have known better" than to give his friend the illicit substance.Judge Gittins said the case was a "stark warning" about those who saw taking drugs as "recreational", adding: "They are nothing short of dicing with death and sometimes people lose the game".Harle, of Shield Street in Newcastle, admitted supplying MDMA while Ali, of Croydon Road, Fenham, admitted four counts of possessing drugs with an intent to supply.
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BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Newcastle dealer and friend 'responsible' for student death
Two men who traded the MDMA which killed a 21-year-old student have been Pavlovic died hours after taking the Class A drug, also known as ecstasy, given to him by his friend George Harle at a house party in Newcastle in October 2020, the city's crown court Ali, who sold the MDMA, was jailed for three years and seven months while Harle was jailed for a year suspended for a year with 150 hours unpaid Pavlovic's family said they were devastated by his death while judge Tim Gittins said it had been an "avoidable tragedy" with both men bearing responsibility. Mr Pavlovic, from Halifax in West Yorkshire, had just entered the final year of a cybersecurity degree at Northumbria University when he died in the early hours of 4 October 2020, the court heard. 'Hallucinating and hot' He and friends had been socialising at his shared-flat at the Rialto building on Melbourne Street when Harle, then aged 20, arrived and offered them drugs, prosecutor Jessica Slaughter people, including Harle, took the MDMA, the court girl who took the drug said it made her feel "depressed and paranoid" and caused her to vomit, adding it was a "totally different" experience compared to when she used it before, Ms Slaughter Pavlovic quickly started acting erratically, the court heard, suffering hallucinations and friends tried to cool him down with wet towels but became increasingly concerned as he was unable to stand or talk coherently, Ms Slaughter were called and he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 07:23 BST. 'Mourn loss every day' In statements read to the court, Mr Pavlovic's parents said their son was kind, genuine and had a "wicked sense of humour".His father said they had a "Nathan-shaped hole" in their lives and after his death they shared his money out between his friends which is what he would have said his son was "super cautious" and the family would "never know" what was said to him that night to persuade him to take drugs, adding it was "so out of character".Mr Pavlovic's mother said he and his family had been "denied" the joy of many important milestones with him "because another person made a bad decision which ultimately ended our son's life".She said he had been very popular with about 300 people attending his funeral, although many of them had to do so virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions in place."We mourn his loss every minute of every day," she said. 'Wishes he'd died' In mitigation for Harle, Adrian Strong said that weekend had been one last chance for everyone to socialise before lockdown restrictions were expected to court heard Harle had since graduated as a nurse working with children and was keen to use his "negative experience" to ensure others did not take said Harle accepted both moral and legal responsibility for Mr Pavlovic's death and he would "always regret" his actions, adding: "The death of Nathan is always on his mind.""He wishes quite frankly it had been him that died that night and not [Mr Pavlovic]," Mr Strong said. Harle gave police the details of his dealer, Ali, 34, who was arrested the following day in his car and found with a haul of MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis worth up to £2,110, Ms Slaughter MDMA was found to have 96% purity, with messages on his phone showing Ali had been selling drugs since 5 September 2020, the court heard. In mitigation, John Crawford said his client had become addicted to drugs after being injured in a machete attack in 2019 and was dealing to pay off debts. 'Prime of life' Judge Tim Gittins said Mr Pavlovic was "naive" and "wholly inexperienced" in drug use, taking an amount which "would have been a fatal dose for anyone"."It is nothing short of an avoidable tragedy," the judge said, adding both Ali and Harle bore a responsibility in part for the death of the "likeable" and "much-loved young man" at the "prime of his life".The judge said Ali was prepared to sell illegal drugs in lethal quantities while Harle, as a student nurse, "should have known better" than to give his friend the illicit Gittins said the case was a "stark warning" about those who saw taking drugs as "recreational", adding: "They are nothing short of dicing with death and sometimes people lose the game".Harle, of Shield Street in Newcastle, admitted supplying MDMA while Ali, of Croydon Road, Fenham, admitted four counts of possessing drugs with an intent to supply. Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Western Telegraph
4 days ago
- Western Telegraph
Milford Haven man went to sell drugs at Winchester festival
Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told Swansea Crown Court that police stopped a vehicle on the A31 at Winchester on August 8 last year after receiving intelligence it was involved in supplying drugs. Justin Cadwell was in the passenger seat, and his sister was driving. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found 44.363 grams of cannabis, nitrous oxide cannisters worth a total of £2,225, two packages of ketamine totalling 15.11g, 12.4g of MDMA, and another two small quantities of cannabis. 'It's accepted this was being taken to a festival,' said Ms Donohue. For the latest crime and court news for west Wales, you can join our Facebook group here. Cadwell told officers his sister was not involved, and an analysis of the messages on her phone confirmed this. Officers found drug-related messages on the defendant's phone going back to December 2 the previous year. Cadwell's home was searched, and officers found 53.25g of cannabis, 450g of cannabis resin, 29.8g of cocaine, a cutting agent, and empty snap bags in a locked garden shed. He was also found to have £25,307.85 in cash stashed in the shed and his bedroom. Cadwell claimed the drugs were for his personal use, and the cash was from his work as a window cleaner and gifted from his dad. The defendant was bailed, and when this lapsed he was released under investigation. Justin Cadwell went back to dealing after he was caught taking drugs to sell at a festival. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police) Emergency services were called to an e-bike crash at Hakin Point in Milford Haven at around 7pm on March 1. The bike had no lights, and the passenger wasn't wearing a helmet. The rider – Cadwell – was knocked unconscious and his passenger was hospitalised. Paramedics cut off Cadwell's jacket to treat him, and white powder spilled out. He was found in possession of 10.21g of cocaine and 60g of cannabis, as well as £588.03 in cash. Cadwell refused to take a drugs test, and claimed the drugs were for personal use and the cash was a loan from his dad. The defendant, of Picton Close in Hakin, pleaded guilty to two offences of possession with intent to supply cocaine, three offences of possession with intent to supply cannabis, as well as possession with intent to supply nitrous oxide and cannabis resin, and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He also admitted possession of criminal property and failing to provide a specimen when required. Ryan Bowen, in mitigation, said: 'The defendant understands that, in his case, only immediate custody can be warranted.' He said Cadwell's guilty pleas indicated a 'genuine acceptance of wrongdoing' and were his most powerful mitigation. Mr Bowen said none of Cadwell's 15 previous convictions for 26 offences were for drug supply offences – although five were for drug possession. He said 28-year-old Cadwell had been using drugs since he was 17, and that his addiction was a 'considerable shame for him' Judge Geraint Walters sentenced Cadwell for two years for the Winchester offences, and an additional three years for the Milford Haven offences. A Proceeds of Crime Act application has been made to attempt to recoup the profits Cadwell made from his offending.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Scottish Sun
I've been spiked multiple times – here's how you can beat sickos, says Ashley James as druggings rise with KIDS targeted
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEARLY seven million unsuspecting Brits have had drugs slipped into their drink as 'spiking' hits epidemic levels. Children as young as 11 have even been targeted and holidaymakers heading to Europe are being warned to stay alert to the dangers. 6 TV host Ashley won't take her eyes off her drink amid spiking fears Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 There are rising cases of people sneaking drugs into drinks Credit: Getty 6 The new SpikeStixx kit allows people to test their drinks for drugs This Morning presenter Ashley James fears she has had mystery narcotics sneaked into her drinks 'multiple times' when out socialising. Today, as a Sun on Sunday probe reveals spiking is reaching new heights, the 38-year-old star said: 'I have suspected that I've been spiked multiple times during my university days and also when I've been out in London at various times. 'Having spent a lot of time in nightlife spaces — especially working as a DJ — I've sadly seen just how common spiking still is. "Several of my close friends have had their drinks spiked, both in the UK and abroad, and there's lots of cases where boys are spiked for pranks. READ MORE ON DRINK SPIKING CLUB HORROR Diddy spiked my drink - it felt like I had 50 Valium… I feared I'd be raped Terrifying trend 'It seems like everyone, including myself, has either been spiked or knows someone who has. "I want to raise awareness, especially as we're going into festival season and summer and people are out in beer gardens and so on.' Victims have been spiked before being sexually assaulted or robbed, and recent cases have shown that some people are also drugging others for a 'joke'. Latest figures from the National Police Chiefs' Council show there were 6,732 recorded spiking cases in the 12 months to April 2023, including 957 reports of needle spiking, which involves victims being injected with drugs. Freedom of Information requests also show constabularies across the country are dealing with more cases than ever. Children as young as 11 are even being targeted with drugs including ketamine, Rohypnol, MDMA and gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Greater Manchester Police recorded 463 spiking incidents last year, compared to 128 in 2019. Some 78 victims were aged 16 to 18, and 14 were between 11 and 15 years old. Meanwhile, West Midlands Police logged 183 suspected incidents against women last year, compared to 25 in 2020. There were 105 reported involving male victims. And in West Yorks, cops had reports of 444 drink spiking incidents last year, compared to 143 in 2019. Ashley is raising awareness alongside campaign group CounterSpike. They have created a SpikeStixx kit, which allows people to test their drinks for a range of drugs. The TV host says she would never now 'accept drinks from strangers' or leave her glass unattended. Some 6.6million people — around one in ten of the population — are believed to have been spiked at some point, according to CounterSpike research. 6 Campaign group CounterSpike have created a SpikeStixx kit Credit: All rights reserved 6 6 Mum-of-one Cara Sayer was spiked at a singles night Credit: Ian Whittaker Yet 90 per cent of cases go unreported, according to Drinkaware and Anglia Ruskin University. Drink spiking is the most common method, but drugs have also been added to vapes and food. And a terrifying new trend called needle spiking has emerged in recent years. More than 140 people reported being jabbed at France's Fete de La Musique festival last month. Police, who made a number of arrests, did not say at the time if it was needle-spiking. Some 80 per cent of spikings take place in public spaces, including bars, clubs and festivals. Mum-of-one Cara Sayer was at a singles night at a bar in Esher, Surrey, in 2021 when she was spiked. The 53-year-old, who runs her own company, SnoozeShade, said: 'I went with a girlfriend. I had to be up early the next day so didn't drink excessively. 'My last coherent memory was my friend leaving at 9.45pm. After that, I vaguely remember wobbling around the dance floor. Spiking is a big concern and it's driven by accessibility to cheap drugs, which is why we are seeing cases involving children. Tory MP Joe Robertson 'Not dancing, but stumbling and trying to stay on my feet. I was found unconscious in the toilet surrounded by my own sick. 'An ambulance was called and they were the first to mention spiking. They said my eyes looked dilated and a bit funny. But when I called the police, they made me feel like it was my fault. 'It took away any element of control and that was terrifying.' Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced in November that tampering with someone's drink is set to become a specific crime. It is currently prosecuted under seven different laws. To bring charges, cops must have evidence of the substance, a suspect, and CCTV footage of them spiking the victim or a credible eyewitness. Police dealt with in 2023, only six per cent ended in an arrest. But there have been some successful prosecutions. In May, Paige Myer, from Northumberland, received a six-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, after she was convicted at Newcastle crown court of 'administering a poison'. She was in a pub when she spiked a woman with amyl nitrite, known as poppers, for a 'joke'. 'Took away control' And in January, Vikas Nath, 61 — a director of the Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant Benares — was charged with administering a substance with intent of overpowering a woman for sexual activity. He denies the claim and is due to stand trial next year. Tory MP Joe Robertson said: 'Spiking is a big concern and it's driven by accessibility to cheap drugs, which is why we are seeing cases involving children. 'I'm worried it's on the rise and it's really hard to prosecute.' The Foreign Office warned Brits to be vigilant abroad after spikings in hotspots including Benidorm, Magaluf and Malta. Colin Mackie, who founded charity Spike Aware after his son Greg, 18, died from a suspected spiking in 2017, said: 'Recently, we were contacted by an 82-year-old man who was spiked and robbed on holiday in Spain. He was walking down the strip when two girls said, 'Come to our pub for our complimentary drink and to watch the football'. 'One brought him a beer. The next thing he knows he's on the floor. "He was taken to hospital and it turned out he'd been spiked and, three days later, he noticed one of his credit cards had gone missing. 'When he went to check, £2,500 had been taken out of his account.' Colin also revealed he had been contacted by the parents of an 11-year-old from Liverpool whose life changed after he was spiked. He said: 'His so-called friends put ketamine in his Lucozade, for fun, to make him look silly. 'He was sick and it affected him mentally. He became aggressive and resentful and he didn't want to go to school any more.'
