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Tributes to Salcombe boy

Tyler Peck

Tyler, 15, was "funny, affectionate and caring"

The family of a Salcombe teenager who died last year after his mother gave him a lethal cocktail of drugs, has paid tribute to him.

Tyler Peck was just 15 when his mother, Holly Strawbridge, gave him and a friend alcohol and dangerous prescription medicines for recreational purposes. She had laced the boys' drinks with liquid morphine and Valium, as well as a nerve drug called Gabapentin. Either the morphine alone or the Gabapentin in Tyler's system was sufficient to kill him.

On Friday, Ms Strawbridge, 34, was jailed for 10 years for child neglect and supplying class A drugs.

Following sentencing Tyler’s father, Ryan Peck, and stepmother, Sam Kibbler, paid tribute to him, saying: “Tyler was funny, affectionate and caring. He was one of the lads, protective, loving and unique, and we miss him dearly.

“We want to take this opportunity to say thank you for all of the support we have had over the last 10 months since Tyler passed away and thank everyone involved in this case. You have all done Tyler proud.

“Unfortunately this trial was never going to bring our Tyler back, but we are glad that justice has finally been served and we can now try to find a way to move forward. We would be grateful if you could all please let us do this in peace.”

Detective Inspector Ian Ringrose, senior investigating officer, welcomed the sentence and said: “Tyler’s death was both tragic and completely avoidable. He died due to the actions of his mother who should have protected him, not put him in harm’s way. Strawbridge also put Tyler’s friend in grave danger that night and he is fortunate not to have suffered the same fate.

“I want to thank Tyler’s friends for their courage in coming forward and speaking on Tyler’s behalf. The result [at the sentencing hearing] is also due to the dedication of the team of investigators who painstakingly gathered and presented the evidence.

“Finally, I want to pay tribute to Tyler’s family for the dignity they have shown throughout this ordeal. I hope that the sentencing today will help them to move forward.”

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