A SCHOOLBOY who died after consuming ecstasy and cocaine at an illegal rave in Northampton was "force-fed" the drugs which led to his death, an inquest has heard.
Miles Shanks, 15, choked to death while suffering the toxic effects of the class A drugs during a party at a disused warehouse in Nunn Mills Road in June 2006.
He was found face down on the ground by an ambulance worker, who estimated the youngster's heart had stopped beating 15 minutes before his arrival.
Alan Barham, an emergency medical technician based at the town's Mereway ambulance station, yesterday described to an inquest at Kettering Magistrates' Court the events leading up to the discovery of Miles's body.
He said: "I was met by a lad at the bottom end (of the site] and he said there was a lad at the top believed to be fitting.
"He led the way up, which was some considerable distance. When I arrived, I saw a lad face down by some derelict buildings.
"I turned him on to his back and could see he was in obvious cardiac arrest."
Mr Barham checked for signs of life, but found none. He said no one had attempted to resuscitate the Mereway Community College pupil for about 15 minutes.
"I thought there was absolutely no chance of resuscitating him and I declared him to be dead," he said.
"I was told he had been force fed drugs by various people. When I arrived, he was on his own, face down and there was no-one else around."
A year after Miles's death, a teenage boy, who had taken him to the party and g
iven him two ecstasy tablets, was sentenced to 12 months in youth custody for supplying the drugs.
A courtorder prevents the Chronicle & Echo and other media from revealing the Northampton youth's identity.
But the 17-year-old, who has since been released from custody, rejected suggestions he had forced drugs on Miles.
"I would never have done that," he told the inquest. "I wouldn't have forced anyone to take drugs."
Coroner Anne Pember said a post mortem examination had revealed Miles had died from choking after taking a "large dose" of ecstasy, as well as some cocaine.
She recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Speaking after yesterday's hearing, the youngster's father, Robert Shanks, said he was surprised at her decision.
He added: "It is not what we were expecting. I can't understand how it could be accidental, if he was supplied with the drugs that killed him."
The full article contains 431 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Last Updated: 18 January 2008 5:34 PM
http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/Tragic-schoolboy-39forcefed39-ecstasy-and.3689819.jp
Miles Shanks, 15, choked to death while suffering the toxic effects of the class A drugs during a party at a disused warehouse in Nunn Mills Road in June 2006.
He was found face down on the ground by an ambulance worker, who estimated the youngster's heart had stopped beating 15 minutes before his arrival.
Alan Barham, an emergency medical technician based at the town's Mereway ambulance station, yesterday described to an inquest at Kettering Magistrates' Court the events leading up to the discovery of Miles's body.
He said: "I was met by a lad at the bottom end (of the site] and he said there was a lad at the top believed to be fitting.
"He led the way up, which was some considerable distance. When I arrived, I saw a lad face down by some derelict buildings.
"I turned him on to his back and could see he was in obvious cardiac arrest."
Mr Barham checked for signs of life, but found none. He said no one had attempted to resuscitate the Mereway Community College pupil for about 15 minutes.
"I thought there was absolutely no chance of resuscitating him and I declared him to be dead," he said.
"I was told he had been force fed drugs by various people. When I arrived, he was on his own, face down and there was no-one else around."
A year after Miles's death, a teenage boy, who had taken him to the party and g
iven him two ecstasy tablets, was sentenced to 12 months in youth custody for supplying the drugs.
A courtorder prevents the Chronicle & Echo and other media from revealing the Northampton youth's identity.
But the 17-year-old, who has since been released from custody, rejected suggestions he had forced drugs on Miles.
"I would never have done that," he told the inquest. "I wouldn't have forced anyone to take drugs."
Coroner Anne Pember said a post mortem examination had revealed Miles had died from choking after taking a "large dose" of ecstasy, as well as some cocaine.
She recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Speaking after yesterday's hearing, the youngster's father, Robert Shanks, said he was surprised at her decision.
He added: "It is not what we were expecting. I can't understand how it could be accidental, if he was supplied with the drugs that killed him."
The full article contains 431 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Last Updated: 18 January 2008 5:34 PM
http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/Tragic-schoolboy-39forcefed39-ecstasy-and.3689819.jp