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'I don't regret shopping my son' | 'I don't regret shopping my son' |
(1 day later) | |
Oliver was found with a stash of ecstasy drugs | Oliver was found with a stash of ecstasy drugs |
Susan Gale's 22-year-old son is currently in jail and estranged from her because she tipped off police about his drugs stash. | Susan Gale's 22-year-old son is currently in jail and estranged from her because she tipped off police about his drugs stash. |
She told BBC Radio 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire show she does not regret making the call which led to her son's conviction last month. | She told BBC Radio 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire show she does not regret making the call which led to her son's conviction last month. |
Susan Gale, of Haywards Heath, Sussex, says she became aware that her son Oliver was smoking cannabis when he was 14, but wrote it off as typical teenage behaviour. | Susan Gale, of Haywards Heath, Sussex, says she became aware that her son Oliver was smoking cannabis when he was 14, but wrote it off as typical teenage behaviour. |
"At that stage, you just think, well, perhaps that's what teenagers do, you know? Perhaps they dabble," she said. | "At that stage, you just think, well, perhaps that's what teenagers do, you know? Perhaps they dabble," she said. |
As Oliver got older, she says, he became more rebellious, "mixing with some people that were drawing him into a circle and a cycle that was obviously incredibly dangerous." | As Oliver got older, she says, he became more rebellious, "mixing with some people that were drawing him into a circle and a cycle that was obviously incredibly dangerous." |
FROM BBC RADIO 5 LIVE href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/">More from BBC Radio 5 live | |
The tipping point came when he was 21. After discovering what she thought were Class A drugs in the kitchen, Susan decided she had to act. | The tipping point came when he was 21. After discovering what she thought were Class A drugs in the kitchen, Susan decided she had to act. |
She says it took her about an hour to make the "very difficult decision" to call the police, after consulting a couple of friends and speaking to a drugs helpline. | She says it took her about an hour to make the "very difficult decision" to call the police, after consulting a couple of friends and speaking to a drugs helpline. |
She confronted her son, but says he appeared "stoned" and unresponsive. | She confronted her son, but says he appeared "stoned" and unresponsive. |
"I felt I had no choice at the time.... because it was a criminal activity, and I felt I couldn't collude with it, and I felt he was on a very dangerous road." | "I felt I had no choice at the time.... because it was a criminal activity, and I felt I couldn't collude with it, and I felt he was on a very dangerous road." |
Police arrived at the house, and arrested Oliver. A few days later, Ms Gale learnt that the police had discovered nearly £10,000 of ecstasy in her son's car. | Police arrived at the house, and arrested Oliver. A few days later, Ms Gale learnt that the police had discovered nearly £10,000 of ecstasy in her son's car. |
In March 2009, Oliver was sentenced to 18 months in Camp Hill Prison, Isle of Wight, after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply. | In March 2009, Oliver was sentenced to 18 months in Camp Hill Prison, Isle of Wight, after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply. |
Sacrifice | Sacrifice |
He no longer communicates with his mother, but Ms Gale told BBC Radio 5 live's that she doesn't regret her decision to involve the police. | He no longer communicates with his mother, but Ms Gale told BBC Radio 5 live's that she doesn't regret her decision to involve the police. |
"If that means sacrificing my relationship, I absolutely stand by what I did, because at least he's alive now, and he has a future. | "If that means sacrificing my relationship, I absolutely stand by what I did, because at least he's alive now, and he has a future. |
"He's facing up to what he did. He's still young enough to change his life forever." | "He's facing up to what he did. He's still young enough to change his life forever." |
And she says she is still trying to keep in contact with him, despite his rejection of her. | And she says she is still trying to keep in contact with him, despite his rejection of her. |
"I write to him and I send him texts. And I have tried to get hold of him - so I won't stop doing that. | "I write to him and I send him texts. And I have tried to get hold of him - so I won't stop doing that. |
"But it hurts. It hurts very deeply because I love him." | "But it hurts. It hurts very deeply because I love him." |
Susan said if not talking to him is the price she had to pay for getting him away from drugs, it will be worth it. | Susan said if not talking to him is the price she had to pay for getting him away from drugs, it will be worth it. |
"I know I did the right thing because he's not in that drugs scene now and he has an opportunity to go on another road." | "I know I did the right thing because he's not in that drugs scene now and he has an opportunity to go on another road." |
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