A LEADING Conservative politician heard a mother's anguish at finding her three-year-old son holding used drugs kit dumped near their home.

Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin was visiting Medway to discuss ways of tackling youth crime and drug abuse. As part of his visit he met Karen Fouche, who lives in Franklin Road, Gillingham.

Miss Fouche's son, Joseph, is repeatedly finding and picking up used heroin needles that have been thrown into their garden or dumped in the alleyway behind her house.

Mr Letwin said: "It is the sort of thing that has become all too common in Britain. We have had a drug problem for a long time but it's becoming a drug crisis and the number of young people that are being dragged into this is extremely worrying."

Mr Letwin stressed: "We need active policing on the streets and also platforms to take young people off this conveyor belt."

He suggested young offenders should be given longer sentences and kept under intense supervision to help them get back into education and jobs.

Mr Letwin also met Medway police officers, including Supt David Pryde, during his visit.