Mother jailed for supplying her nine-year-old son with cocaine named

The mother jailed for supplying her nine-year-old son with cocaine was named after a challenge from news agency reporters.

Drug addict Emma Kelly, 31, was jailed for nine years at Hove Crown Court on Thursday last week after admitting three charges of supplying Class A drugs, namely heroin and crack cocaine, to her son when he was aged between nine and 11.

The case was initially covered by an order made under Section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, which stopped publication of anything which would identify Kelly's son — meaning she could not be identified as the mother.

But Press Association South-East of England reporter Tom Pugh, and Matthew Davis of Lewes-based John Connor Press Associates, persuaded Judge Anthony Niblett to amend the order so that while the boy could not be named or other identifying details given, the media could say that he was Kelly's son.

Pugh told the judge that it was important reports should state the relationship between mother and son so that the public were aware of the seriousness of Kelly's offences.

He said it would also help alleviate fears that she might have been giving drugs to other children, and help the public understand the sentence she receives.