TWO teenagers who gave methadone to a youth who fatally overdosed on the drug have been jailed for three and a half years each.

Thomas Evans and Nicola Pratt, both 19 and unemployed, gave the class A drug, used to treat heroin addicts, to Dominic Butler, 17, pictured below, of Pennington, near Lymington. Within hours he died of methadone toxicity.

Evans and Pratt, a mother of two, were cleared of manslaughter on the judge's orders at trial earlier this month but pleaded guilty to supplying a class A drug. The jury was ordered to clear Evans and Pratt of supplying diazepam and temazapan to Dominic.

The trial heard they had stored up methadone they were being prescribed as they tackled their heroin addiction. Then on April 3 at their flat in The Acorns, Bursledon, near Southampton, they gave it to Dominic.

Sentencing yesterday, Mr Justice Silber said: "The way you behaved was grossly irresponsible. When it is done in a breach of trust and to someone of his age it becomes a much more serious offence''

They both showed no emotion as they were sent into detention for the third time. Pratt stood in the dock with her arms folded.

The judge read out part of the impact statement from Dominic's mother, Michelle Butler. It said: "The current drugs culture is a dangerous place for young people and we hope some changes may result after a case like this. In Europe methadone is issued in front of medical staff and addicts cannot build up supplies. This would have saved my son's life and prevent others suffering in a similar way in the future.''

The judge said he agreed with that view and hoped notice would be taken of it.

Yesterday the court was told that Evans, previously of Bosville, Boyatt Wood, Eastleigh, had 15 previous offences and Pratt, previously of Parnell Road, Eastleigh, 28 offences.

Andrew Barnett, mitigating for Evans, said: "He wishes to express intense remorse. There is nothing he can do to bring the young man back. He feels the loss very intently indeed.

"If some good can come out of this awful situation, it has jolted this young man to his senses. He is going to have to live with the consequences of his conduct for the rest of his life.''

Mr Barnett said Evans was trying to improve himself. He could prove he had been drug-free since August while on remand and was undertaking classes in prison.

Jane Miller QC, for Pratt, said her client was feeling the loss of her two children, one born last August fathered by Evans.

"Particularly tragically for Nicola Pratt is that she knows she will not regain custody of that child. That has been the real punishment she had had.''

Pratt realises she must change her life. "She realises that she must do something and move away from Eastleigh and former associates. She knows the trap she is likely to fall into if she does not stay off drugs.''

Dominic's mother described the sentence as too light. She said: "I think three and a half years is too little, given the circumstances of this case. Ten years would have been nearer the mark.''