The grieving parents of pond tragedy teenager Hugo Wenn are
calling for legal highs to be banned.

Toxicology tests revealed the 17-year-old and his friend Daniel

Lloyd, 25, had taken methoxetamine before they drowned in

Canterbury's Reed Pond.

But Rob and Fiona Wenn fiercely believe their son, who was an
ex-pupil of Archbishop's School, was not a regular user and it was
an "adventure" that went tragically wrong.

They are now backing a campaign to have the substance - also
known as MXE or Mexxy - blacklisted.

It is used commercially as an animal tranquilliser and has
similar chemical properties to ketamine, which is on the list of
controlled substances.

Speaking from their home in Barham, the couple, who have two
other sons and a daughter, said he grew up in a family where
drug-taking was an alien world.

Fiona, 50, said: "There was never any sign or suggestion in the
past that Hugo was taking drugs. It just wasn't him.

"I honestly believe it may be the first time he had taken the
drug. It makes me angry that it is sold as a 'safe' alternative to
ketamine, which is known to be dangerous.

"Methoxetamine is still a chemical and it seems abhorrent to us
that it is clearly being sold for recreational use.

"These people have no morals, it's just about making money. The
drug may not have killed Hugo and Daniel directly but it surely
contributed to their deaths.

"Both Rob and I feel very strongly that methoxetamine should be
classified.

We know that may not stop people buying it over the internet but at
least it would highlight the dangers of taking it."

Kent Police said detectives investigating the case were not
treating the deaths as suspicious.

A report has been prepared for the coroner, who will hold an
inquest later.