AN Accrington man who sold ecstasy to a15-year-old schoolgirl has been jailed for three-and-a-half years

Preston Crown Court was told the girl had to stay in hospital overnight after taking the drug.

Judge Andrew Blake told Heywood: "Supplying a Class A drug to a 15-year-old was a wicked thing to do."

Christopher Heywood, 21, of Broadfield Road, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to supplying two-and-a-half ecstasy tablets to the girl and possession of thirteen ecstasy tablets.

Mohammed Nawaz, prosecuting, told the court the offences took place in January at someone else's house. The girl was given half a tablet every 30 minutes which she took with vodka and blackcurrant.

Heywood had given the girl the last half tablet after she had become ill.

He had planned to take her to his home, where he lived with a brother and sister, for the teenager to clear her head but she was taken to hospital after her mother turned up at the friend's home.

The girl was shaking, her eyes were rolling and she was staggering about.

Richard Bennett, defending, said there was no evidence of any sexual motive.