A 24-year-old man has appeared in court today charged with a drugs offence linked to the death of a 16-year-old York College student.

Poppy Rodgers collapsed and was taken to York Hospital on April 19 after taking a yellow-white paste with friends at a house in Tang Hall Lane. She died shortly after midnight.

Luke Carey, of Waterings, Wigginton, is alleged to have supplied her with 4-methylamphetamine, a Class A drug.

He is also alleged to have supplied a young man with the same drug and attempted to supply Poppy, two other women and a second man with the same drug.

All the supplies are alleged to have taken place on April 19 in a house in Tang Hall Lane.

Carey, 24, is also charged with possessing 72.8g of 4-methylamphetamine with intent to supply it to others on April 20.

He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address during the brief hearing at York Magistrates Court.

Magistrates decided the case was too serious for them to deal with and ordered the CPS to prepare committal papers. They adjourned the case until January 3 and released Carey on bail on condition he does not contact the people he is alleged to have supplied and other witnesses by any means including through in the internet or by mobile phone.

Members of both his family and Poppy’s family were present in court.

4-methylamphetamine is an illegal “designer drug” which acts as a stimulant and can suppress appetite. Anyone convicted of an offence of possessing or supplying it faces the same maximum penalty as those convicted of offences involving cocaine or heroin.

A few weeks after Poppy’s death, North Yorkshire Police warned the public not to use 4-methylamphetamine, saying that it had been linked to deaths elsewhere in the UK and in Europe.