Mum accused of giving son Tyler Peck drugs claims witnesses 'bribed' to tell lies

Holly Strawbridge, aged 34, said in interview that the 15-year-old friend's were offered money after his death

A mother accused of supplying the drugs which killed her schoolboy son has accused her ex-partner of bribing the 15-year-old’s friends to tell lies about her.

Holly Strawbridge, aged 34, told police that teenagers were making up things abut her because they were being given money by Tyler Peck’s father.

Mother-of-five Strawbridge is on on trial accused of giving Tyler and a 15-year-old friend her morphine and other painkilling medication at the family home in Salcombe.

Tyler Peck died from an overdose in his sleep that February night.

The trial resumed today after being adjourned on Friday after Strawbridge learnt of the unexpected death of her own mother.

The jury today heard the police interview Strawbridge gave in June.

She was asked why Tyler’s friends had lied about her supplying drugs – particularly the 15-year-old who said they spent the early hours abusing her medication.

He said that the three of them had also sniffed from aerosols.

Tyler died from an overdose of morphine and Gabapentin, with Valium, codeine and MDMA also found in his system.

Asked why the 15-year-old and other friends were lying about her, Strawbridge blamed ex-partner Ryan Peck.

She added: “He is a man who can get to them. He is probably giving them all money.”

Asked what money she was talking about, she said that it was £3,000 raised for Tyler’s funeral.

Officer in the case DC Mike Lugger asked Strawbridge: “Can you give me anything concrete? This would be perverting the course of justice.”

Strawbridge replied: “I have just given you it.”

She had earlier denied supplying the two 15-year-olds or anyone else with drugs.

Strawbridge said: “I just want to say that I have never supplied any sort of drugs. I had nothing to do with Tyler’s death or any allegations that they, people, are saying.”

She told police in her initial interview that she had put Tyler to sleep that night.

The court heard a statement from Andy Pugsley, the headteacher of Salcombe Primary School.

He said that the school decided to set up a crowdfunding page in the wake of Tyler’s death.

Mr Pugsley added that the aim was to raise £1,500 to pay for the funeral, but £3,000 was collected.

He added that the excess money was split between four schools attended by Tyler and his brothers and sisters.

The Crown Prosecution Service has closed its case, but for verifying one fact.

Strawbridge has pleaded not guilty to supplying Tyler and the other boy with morphine between January 31 and February 3.

The defendant has also denies two further charges of cruelty towards the two boys between the same dates.

The trial continues.