More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
MP Tracey Crouch has written to Theresa May calling for a crackdown on shops which sell 'legal highs'.
She has tackled the Home Secretary to highlight the dangers of some of the substances they sell following the death of Jimmy Guichard, 20, pictured.
His family believe he had visited one of two shops in Chatham High Street, UK Skunkworks and Dark Times.
An empty package found next to him indicated that's where he had been.
He had also mentioned visiting a shop selling legal highs to his father.
The Chatham MP has brought the case to the attention of Mrs May and another similar case in Canterbury when a teenager nearly died from a legal high bought at UK Skunkworks.
Miss Crouch, pictured, wrote: “I find it quite unbelievable that companies like Skunkworks are allowed to operate in the way they do, selling dangerous substances they must surely know are being purchased with the intention of being consumed by their customers.
"It seem as though they are given legal cover by simply stating on the pcacking that these substances are note intended for human consumption."
She calls for current legislation to be updated and has asked for a more "muscular" approach on the issue.
Jimmy was found unconscious on his bed by his father after suffering a heart attack and died 24 hours later.
Items in the room have been removed by the police and it was unclear if they included the packet, or where exactly it was purchased from.
Police have handed the investigation over to the coroner as there was no third party involvement in the death and results from toxicology are awaited.
Jimmy, from Gravesend, died in his mother Karen Audino's arms after she had made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life-support machine on October 3.
As she made plans for the sport-fanatic’s funeral, she retraced his steps to try to get some clues as to what had happened and to highlight the dangers of the substances.
Mrs Audino, 42, said: “I believe what he smoked caused his death and I want legal high shops banned, so nobody else has to go through this pain. He was fit and healthy, even the doctors said his organs were perfect.”
It is unclear which of the two shops selling legal highs in that street Jimmy had visited – UK Skunkworks or Dark Times.
During her visit to Chatham she identified herbal incense packets in both stores as matching the description of those his father found next to him. Some had names such as Amsterdam Gold Smoking Mix and Happy Herb.
Both shops have said they have no knowledge of selling their products to Jimmy, but while UK Skunkworks denies they are harmful if used properly, the owner of Dark Times has taken all herbal incense off the shelves as a precaution.
A UK Skunkworks spokesman said there was no evidence he had bought any substances from their store. He added: "All our products are clearly labelled 'not for human consumption'".
Mr Guichard's mother has launched a Facebook campaign to highlight the dangers of legal highs, which can be found at www.facebook.com/Legalhighawareness.
