A dad died after taking morphine tablets supplied to him by his neighbour to ease pain in his knee.
David Rose contacted friend Kelly Rowell asking if she had any painkillers after suffering three sleepless nights. After taking some of the tablets, the 48-year-old died.
As partially-sighted Rowell, 42, of Oxford Road, Stakeford, Ashington, Northumberland was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court for supplying the morphine, it emerged she had been "eternally grateful" to Mr Rose after he saved her life in 2015.
Read more: Tyneside graffiti gang including three railway cleaners caused £46,000 of damage to trains
Around 12pm on December 10 2020, Natalie Moon spoke to former partner, David Rose, and he was well but had ongoing ailments, including pain in his knee and limited mobility. Messages on Mr Rose's phone showed he asked Rowell if she had any painkillers and she replied saying her dad had some morphine tablets which she would sell for him.
Mr Rose later told Ms Moon had had not been able to sleep for three nights due to the pain in his knee and said he had visited Rowell and she had sold him 28 morphine tablets. He later texted another friend saying "asked big Kelly for some paracetamol and ended up with some morphine tablets" and added that he had taken 14 of them and consumed cider.
Glenn Gatland, prosecuting, said: "David Rose took the tablets Kelly Rowell sold to him. He would not have died but for taking those tablets."
A post mortem found the dad-of-three's death was due to the fatal level of morphine in his system and he also had raised levels of other drugs, all of which caused central nervous system depression.
When Mr Rose was seen the next day by Miss Moon's sister, she thought he was just sleeping but around the same time Rowell contacted Miss Moon asking if he was ok as he had not taken her the £10 he said he would for the tablets. It was at that stage Miss Moon discovered her former partner was dead.
When she was arrested, Rowell initially claimed she had only supplied him with ibuprofen and claimed the £10 debts was owed for a drink.
In a victim impact statement, Miss Moon said they didn't get to grieve properly or say goodbye and "one of the hardest things I've had to do" is tell their teenage son, who took the news of his dad's death badly.
Rowell, 42, who has no previous convictions but two cautions, including for possessing class B drugs in 2004, pleaded guilty to supplying morphine and was sentenced to 23 months suspended for two years with a three-month curfew.
Judge Edward Bindloss said: "This case involves the tragic death of David Rose. There is a lot of emotion surrounding this case." He added that the sentence could be suspended as locking her up would have a harmful impact on others, including her children.
The judge said Mr Rose was in poor health, had undergone repeated operations on his knee and also had gout, depression, had recently had sepsis and also had an alcohol addiction and was previously addicted to prescription drugs.
Tony Davis, defending, said: "The cause of death was a combination of morphine and (two other types of medication).
"The defendant has a connection with Mr Rose which is ironic. She regarded him as very much a friend and very much someone who she had an eternal gratitude towards because he saved her life following aneurisms in 2015 which led her to be partially sighted. She's 4% sighted. She has other conditions, including depression and anxiety."
Read next:
- Grandad joked of being 'done for baby snatching' during sex chat with 'child'
- Raging Gateshead thug left DJ with brain injury for kissing his former girlfriend's hand
- Byker drug dealer said she was selling cocaine in Newcastle city centre to buy new curtains
- Bedlington man set fire to girlfriend's clothes after falsely accusing her of being in porn video
- Gateshead murderer 'Billy the Bump' who went on to rape girl jailed for 27 years
