Four men could face jail sentences after an employee of Prince Charles’ charity collapsed and died from ecstasy poisoning during a ‘lad’s weekend’ at the Warehouse Project in Manchester.
Nick Bonnie, 30, whose mother works in drug rehabilitation, is believed to have swallowed a pill from what police described as a ‘bad batch’ of the drug.
He and five friends were taken to hospital on September 27 last year when they became ill at the Warehouse Project nightclub in Manchester.
But Mr Bonnie, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, who worked for the Princes Trust and has attended the Queen’s garden parties at Buckingham Palace was pronounced dead at Manchester Royal Infirmary at 4.30am the following morning.
His family later issued a statement saying they hoped Nick’s death might help others realise that drinking and use of any illicit drugs were ‘a killer with consequences that will devastate lives forever.’
At Minshull Street Crown Court, the four suspects pleaded guilty to their roles in the tragedy and were ordered to face sentencing later in the year.
James Churchill, 30, of Selsey West, Stroud, Gloucestershire admitted three charges of supplying controlled Class A drug MDMA and three allegations of supplying cocaine and admitted a charge of perverting the course of justice.
Dean Neale, 30, of Mosley Crescent, Stroud, Gloucestershire, admitted one charge of possessing MDMA, possessing cocaine and perverting the course of justice by providing a false witness statement.
Simon Lloyd-Jones, 29, of Fox Moor Lane, Stroud, Gloucestershire admitted perverting the course of justice.
Today, Paul Tabb, 31, of Stanley View, Stroud, Gloucestershire, was due to stand trial charged with perverting the course of justice but changed his plea to guilty.
The particulars of the charge are that ‘on September 27 with intent to pervert the course of justice by providing a false account to the police in relation to the incident concerning the supply of drugs to Nick Bonnie’.
He admitted possessing MDMA and cocaine at an earlier hearing. All four men who are on bail will appear for sentencing on October 3 when it is expected a victim impact statement from Nick’s mother will be read out.
Speaking at the time of Nick’s death, his parents Pauline and Andy Bonnie said: “This news has devastated the lives of us, Nick’s two brothers Thomas and Ryan, and his beautiful devoted girlfriend Leah.
“Our family and friends, Nick’s friends, work colleagues, all those who had the privilege of knowing him and those he helped in his employment with the Princes Trust are equally devastated.
“Nick was born in King’s Stanley and went to the local primary school. He progressed to Marling before taking a gap year and travelling around Australia before gaining his degree at university in Plymouth.
“He returned home to work with a local firm of solicitors in Stroud before embarking on the true vocation of his life, working with the Princes Trust.
“He has helped many young people in the early stages of his employment there and helped raise funds and promote the profile of the trust in his current role. He has been to Highgrove on several occasions and attended one of the Queen’s garden parties at Buckingham Palace.
“Nick played local football for King’s Stanley youth teams up until the age of 16, Leonard Stanley Under 18s, Brimscombe & Thrupp and finally, Cashes Green.
“Nick was a keen sportsman, avid follower of Liverpool FC and only last week completed the Tough Mudder challenge for Help for Heroes in Wales.
“Nick was known by many as having a big heart, big personality and the most infectious smile in Stroud.
“Our thanks go out to all those who have taken the time to send messages of support to our family. Our lives and all those who were blessed to share a part in his life are broken. Our life will never be the same without Nick and he will never be forgotten.
“Everyone who knew Nick was aware he loved life, lived it to the max and in making one stupid mistake he has cost himself his life.
‘We hope that after reading this, we may have gone some way in helping anyone/ everyone in the realisation that drinking and the use of any illicit drugs are a killer with consequences that will devastate lives forever.”
Story via Cavendish Press
