Ellie Knowles became ill at Shindig, in Byker, Newcastle, hours after being given drugs, Newcastle Crown Court heard
A mother has told of her heartache at the death of her 18-year-old daughter after she collapsed at a nightclub where she had taken ecstasy.
Ellie Knowles became ill at Shindig, in Byker, Newcastle, hours after being given drugs, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Ryan Best and Jack Malloy have been jailed for their involvement in supplying MDMA to Ellie but an inquest is yet to be held to establish a cause of death.
As the two men were locked up, Ellie’s mother, Natalie Pegden, described how she ‘sobs, screams and tortures’ herself with thoughts of what might have been for her ‘beautiful’ girl.
Ms Pegden said in a statement read to the court: ‘The impact of Ellie’s death on me is insurmountable.
‘Ellie and I shared a very tight mum and daughter bond and she truly was my best friend.
‘Beautiful on the inside and out, I ache to hear her laugh one more time, to see her face and smell her but I am left with a void that no one can fill and an image of a hospital mortuary.
‘Each time I go into her bedroom I pray it’s all been a terrible nightmare and she will still be warm and snuggled up in bed but instead we are left with a room that remains unchanged since her death, clothes and makeup still visible but with no one in there.
Ellie’s(pictured) mother, Natalie Pegden, described how she ‘sobs, screams and tortures’ herself with thoughts of what might have been for her ‘beautiful’ girl
‘I still have her on speed dial and in my favourites but never again can I call her and hear her voice just for a quick natter or listen to her tell me all the latest gossip from her friends and boyfriends.
‘I sob, scream and torture myself with what might have been and am left empty now with what will never will be.
‘What has been taken away from us will never be replaced, I will never watch my daughter grow up, get married and have her own children which was a life we often chatted about.
‘I will never have the planned girlie weekends, shopping trips or any other cherished time nor will I see her blossom into the wonderful woman I know she would have become.
Ryan Best and Jack Malloy have been jailed for their involvement in supplying MDMA to Ellie but an inquest is yet to be held to establish a cause of death
‘They say time is a great healer but I disagree, as time passes it gets no easier and no less painful.
‘Family, friends and work colleagues have helped me get by one day at a time and they are sympathetic when I simply sit there and cry.
‘My only sanctuary in this whole nightmare is that my last words to her were “I Love You My Darling” to which she replied “I love you too Mum. Forever”.’
Best, 22, and Malloy, 20, were jailed for a total of five years after the death of Ellie on November 6 last year.
She had been at the Shindig event at Hoults Yard venue in Byker on Saturday, November 5, when she collapsed.
A court was told how Malloy had been with Ellie and her friends at an address in Sandyford earlier in the day when he contacted Best and arranged the delivery of a quantity of MDMA.
Ellie had been at Shindig(pictured) in Hoults Yard, Byker on Saturday, November 5, when she collapsed
Best attended the address later on that day and delivered the drugs to the occupants.
The group, some of whom were students in the city, took the drugs at the address before heading to the event at the club in Hoults Yard.
A court was also told how Ellie, from Doncaster, began to feel unwell and eventually collapsed. She was taken to hospital by paramedics but sadly passed away.
Ellie’s cause of death has yet to be determined but an inquest will now take place following the sentencing.
Best admitted a charge of supplying Class A drugs and Malloy admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
Best, of Tulip Brae, Northern Ireland, was jailed for four years, while Malloy, of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was jailed for one year.
A court was also told how Ellie, from Doncaster, began to feel unwell and eventually collapsed. She was taken to hospital by paramedics but passed away