Schoolgirl died after taking home made MDMA drugs, court docket hears

A 16-year-old schoolgirl died after taking two MDMA pills that were homemade by a teenage drug dealer, a court heard.

Lucy Hill and five friends had taxied into Exeter from their home in Exmouth to go to the Move nightspot for a teenage music do in December 2022.

Each of the six girls took pills and Lucy downed two straight away. But they all soon became ill feeling dizzy from the hallucinogenic effects.

The court heard they all ‘felt bad’ on the dance floor before club staff took Lucy outside and put her into the recovery position while an ambulance was called.

She died soon after in an Exeter hospital as her heartbroken family raced to be by her side.

Lucy Hill, of Exmouth, died in December after collapsing at the Move Nightclub (pictured) on Exeter quay in Devon

Each of the six girls took pills and Lucy downed two straight away. But they all soon became ill feeling dizzy from the hallucinogenic effects (stock image of MDMA p

A court heard James Greaves emptied prescription pill capsules and refilled them with MDMA before resealing them.

He then supplied the tablets in different sizes and colours to his old school friend Taylor Rowsell for £200.

Exeter Crown Court heard Rowsell had been contacted by a teenage girl asking for MDMA but was unable to supply her himself so he contacted Greaves who had drug supply links to Devon. 

Rowsell later texted his pal Greaves to say that he made a profit of £350 by selling the pills to others for £10 each.

Greaves allegedly told Rowsell how to sell, weigh and price the pills.

The court was told Greaves played the leading role by ‘making up his own drugs provided to Rowsell but also to others’.

‘He knew what he was doing, making them up and selling them,’ said the prosecution.

Rowsell texted Greaves the next morning after hearing of Lucy’s death and said he was ‘losing it’.

Police arrested both Rowsell, of Exmouth, Devon, and Greaves, then of Camborne, Cornwall, but they made no comment in three police interviews.

Lucy’s mum Deborah Hill told the court her daughter was ‘kind and caring’ and their ‘lives will never be the same again’.

Lucy died a week after she turned 16 years old and her sister Chloe sobbed as told the court her ‘heart aches’ as she misses doing everything with her, calling her a ‘perfect angel’.

The court heard Rowsell and Greaves were 16 and 17 at the time of the offences and both have admitted supplying class A drugs.

The case was adjourned until next month for sentencing and both defendants were bailed but warned by the judge they face immediate custody.

Lucy attended Exmouth Community College and in tribute they said Lucy

was a ‘kind, considerate, beautiful person’ who was well-liked by her peers and staff.

They said: ‘She was always smiling, looking out for others and many of her friends benefitted from her loyalty and care. She was bright, hard-working and well motivated.’