More than 80 people were found with drugs at a Dreamland drum and bass gig where a 17-year-old died after taking MDMA.
Emily Stokes died in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest having attended an event at the Margate theme park in June last year.
An inquest into the teenager’s death opened today, with Shane Guy, the operations director at Dreamland, giving evidence.
He told coroner Catherine Wood that 82 people were found with drugs, and “probably all” would have been discovered during the search process as concert-goers queued to enter the venue.
Mr Guy said the number is what he would expect for “an event with high risk of drug use.”
He explained: “I know it was a number we would expect to find. We have a zero tolerance on drugs. They are refused entry and drugs seized. At no stage were we overwhelmed.”
The inquest also heard that a full risk assessment was carried out before the event, which was considered to be high risk.
Emily was seen on CCTV entering the park on June 29 at 1.30pm, and no drugs were found on her when searched.
Pictures showed her enjoying herself and later she was seen coming out of a toilet and putting something in her mouth and drinking water.
Later on, a bar manager spotted her slumped by the floor.
She was given medical treatment and taken to the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital in the town, where her condition was described as critical.
Mr Guy was told at 6pm that Emily had died.
Sam Noble from Manca Security, which had been contracted by Dreamland, told the inquest, at Oakwood House in Maidstone: “I was asked to come to the main gates. Kent Police then told me sadly she had passed away. Then there was a discussion over whether to continue with the event.”
A major incident was declared, but it was decided that the event, attended by about 7,000 people, should continue, rather than having “7,000 unhappy people in the streets of Margate”, Mr Guy said.
Mr Noble added there was an MDMA batched laced with fentanyl going around that had caused deaths in the county in previous weeks.
“We discussed this with the team and raised it in the event briefing,” he added.
Emily was in care and a social worker from the authority responsible for her- Waltham Forest Council in London – also gave evidence today.
Kay Mockford described how the teen started to have trouble with drug and alcohol use in a Kent foster placement at 16.
She told the court: “Her foster carers were really proactive with Emily.
“They were trying to get her to understand the repercussions of drugs and alcohol, but she would go out with friends and come back drunk. She started to use cannabis in the home.
“We both tried to encourage Emily to access services to help, but she didn’t think she had a problem with it. She thought she could deal with it.
“It was very much a case of that’s what her friends did.”
Emily was offered professional drug and alcohol service by Ms Mockford, but declined “on a regular basis”.
The girl – who has been described as artistic, a fantastic baker and a remarkable young woman – was moved to Kent when she was young.
When her foster placement in the county broke down, Emily was moved back to the capital.
Ms Mockford – who saw Emily in person every six weeks – said: “I explained to her long before that when she got to 18 she would be put into a semi independent placement back in Waltham Forest.
“Because of her behaviour she was bought back early, in April.
“We tried to rehouse her in Kent but had no success. She wanted to stay in the county, but our policy is that children come back into their local area when they turn 18.
“Otherwise, they are taking up a council home that a Kent child could have as well.
“It was a hard time for Emily.
“She struggled with it because she had been around her friends for such a long time. She would spend a lot of time on the phone with them.”
But once in the facility – which has 24 hour staff and a 10pm curfew – Emily did not touch drugs or alcohol for the first week.
“It looked like she had turned a corner,” the social worker said.
But after a visit to Canterbury with friends, where it is thought she purchased drugs, Emily asked if she could have a ticket for the gig in Margate.
Ms Mockford said: “She said she was staying in Kent.
“I said she can’t stay, because we wouldn’t know where she was staying.
“Emily didn’t give us those details, so we didn’t buy her a ticket.
“I had said she couldn’t go, because I didn’t want her to stay overnight, I didn’t know who she was going to stay with, and she refused to give me details of when she would be back.”
Despite this the teen bought a ticket to the event with her own money, which is gained through a council benefit.
Staff at the semi-independent facility did not know she had travelled to the event, as residents are not monitored throughout the day and are free to leave – provided they meet the curfew.
Mr Mockford added: “If she told me how she was getting home I wouldn’t have stopped her. We know it was something she really wanted to go to.
“Sadly, there was nothing within my power to stop what happened.”
She also gave a touching tribute to the girl, saying: “I had a lovely relationship with Emily.
“She was a very quirky young lady – never had the same hair colour every time I saw her.
“She was so artistic and a fantastic baker.
“She was very funny and clever as well.
“I would always have a can of Coke for her in the car after school. I very affectionately called her chocolate chops. Sometimes we would just sit and talk and put the world to rights.
“She had a great friendship group that absolutely loved her, and she just loved life.
“She was a remarkable young lady and is sorely missed.”
The inquest continues.
