Help sought over girl's drugs death

Officers believe that she may have succumbed to a fatal cocktail of the Class A drug MDMA mixed with cough medicine - a combination already known in Australia but possibly part of a deadly new craze here in Britain.

Kate, 18, was from Ore, Hastings, and was due to go to university to study criminology. The last time she was in contact with her mother, Pauleen McLaughlin, was on the afternoon of Saturday, July 31. Pauleen got a text from Kate saying she would not be going shopping with her.

On Sunday, August 1 at around 1pm Pauleen went into Kate’s room and discovered her body slumped over the end of her bed.

Detective Inspector Emma Heater said: “We have been following several lines of enquiry and spoken to a number of Kate’s friends.

“We believe she went to a popular bar with friends in Hastings on the Friday night and then onto a friend’s house. Although Kate’s death is not being treated as suspicious, not knowing where or who she was with on the Saturday night is causing great distress to her family. I would urge anyone who was with Kate on the Saturday night or who has any information to please come forward.”

Mrs McLoughlin said: “Kate’s stepfather and I are devastated by the loss of our wonderful, clever, talented daughter. She always took care of her friends and cared about their safety. We are sad that no-one seemed to take care of her on her last night and we appeal for anyone who saw her or who knows anything about where she might have been on the night of Saturday, July 31, to contact us or the police. “

DI Heater added: “The level of MDMA found in Kate’s blood was relatively low so the lesson is not to take any drugs - regardless of the amount. It would appear it was cut with dextromethorpham which is a cough suppresant.

“The lesson here is that you never know what you are taking.

“Even if the drug is cut with something normally be relatively harmless, you do not know how the substances will react together.”

Two people have been arrested and questioned by police on suspicion of supplying the drugs involved in the death. Both have been granted bail while police enquiries continue. An inquest into Kate’s death has still to be held by East Sussex Coroner Alan Craze.

Anyone with any information about Kate’s last movements is urged to contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070 999 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.