A devastated mum has warned of a “drug epidemic” in a Kent town after her son overdosed on ecstasy and died - aged just 16.

Tragic Ben Davey took multiple MDMA pills with a friend at home in Marshall Street, Folkestone, and was found unresponsive the following morning.

His mum Natalie Malloch says the tragedy must serve as a warning to any youngsters tempted to experiment with drugs.

“I want his death to be an eye-opener for children and young people who may think it's fun at the time to play with drugs,” she told KentOnline.

“It's the people that they're leaving behind that really hurt the most.

“Lives are being ruined and adults are the ones that are selling it or giving it to the younger generations.”

KentOnline previously revealed how drug offences in the county had risen 45% in the space of five years, with one former addict claiming cocaine use is “rife”.

The latest available figures show 23 people in Folkestone & Hythe died from drug poisoning in 2023, more than the two previous years combined and at least 10 more than any other Kent district.

Official figures released in November revealed that more than 80,000 people in Kent use illegal drugs, with 32,000 taking Class A substances.

Ms Malloch, who lives in the Scottish Highlands, said: “It's genuinely turned into an epidemic there. I used to live in Folkestone and I'd never go back because of the way that it's got. It's awful, it's horrible.”

Ben had only recently moved back to Kent. He had spent six years in Scotland with his mum but, after his best friend took his own life, he returned to Folkestone to live with his dad, Simon.

An inquest into his death heard on Friday that in days before he died, the anxious teenager had seen a GP at Guildhall Surgery as he was struggling to sleep amid stalled efforts to find work.

He struggled to be in large groups, would suffer from panic attacks and found it hard to talk to others, though he had not reported any suicidal thoughts.

On June 21, his dad was called away to visit an unwell relative and asked neighbours to keep an eye on his son.

That afternoon, Ben and a friend, Rory* [not his real name], played video games, smoked cannabis and posted videos of MDMA on Snapchat before taking multiple pills.

Rory had initially intended to stay the night, but decided to stay with his partner instead, telling police he last saw Ben at 11pm.

By 10am the next morning, Ben was found unresponsive in his bed, undressed but with no pills on him. He was declared dead three hours later in hospital.

An inquest into Ben’s death was told that while Rory was arrested on conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, no charges linked to the tragedy were brought forward.

It was heard how Rory and another friend, Tracey* [not her real name], had lied to officers out of fear of repercussions.

Tracey had initially gone to police claiming to have phones belonging to Rory, but it was later found they belonged to a boyfriend who she had not wanted her father to know about.

Tracey’s evidence was deemed unreliable, while efforts to access Ben’s phone proved fruitless and no other evidence linking Rory to Ben’s death could be found.

It means how Ben spent his final hours remains unknown.

Ms Malloch told KentOnline: “He got in with the wrong crowd, was led completely down the wrong path and now he’s paid for it.

“He'll never have justice because people are too scared to speak out.”

Coroner Katrina Hepburn concluded Ben died from an overdose.

Described as a unique and funny young man, he had seven sisters and was a petrolhead who wanted to work as a mechanic.

His mum thanked car group Ford South East for arranging several of Ben’s favourite motors, such as the Audi R8, to drive in his funeral procession.

“All his sisters absolutely adored him, all of them. He was such a good big brother,” Ms Malloch added.

“He was fun with a completely dark sense of humour.

“Genuinely, there was no one like him - he was definitely his own character.”

Kent Police’s Chief Superintendent Shaun White says the force regularly visits schools to educate pupils on the dangers of drugs. They also work with teachers to help identify cases where early interventions might be needed.

“The misuse of drugs can cause misery to people’s lives, and we are committed to reducing the harm caused by illegal substances such as heroin and cocaine,” he said.

‘We have not only dedicated teams of officers tackling the issue of county lines and gangs, but our enforcement approach through the work of our Community Safety Units and local beat officers, combined with education and support services for users is helping to reduce the damage that misuse of these substances can cause in communities.”

Members of the public are urged to report any suspicious behaviour either by calling 999 in an emergency, online via Kent Police’s website or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Ch Supt White added: “By continuing to work together we not only ensure Kent remains a safe place to live but we are getting the message through to criminals that there is no hiding place from the law.”