Henry Lachlan Cox, 19, avoids further penalty after being called to bring drugs to Amy Bowden

A young drug user who was called to supply methamphetamine to “wake up” a young woman after a heroin overdose has learned his fate in court.

A young drug user who was called to supply methamphetamine to “wake up” a young woman who suffered a heroin overdose has been spared jail, with a judge saying he had ‘nothing to do with her death’.

Last week, the South Australian District Court heard Henry Lachlan Cox had been called to a Redwood Park home in February 2024 to deliver meth - the drug that was used in an attempt to “wake up” Amy Bowden, who had suffered from a heroin overdose.

However, the court heard that the drug used on the young woman - who later died as a result - was in fact not delivered by Cox.

In sentencing last Wednesday, Judge Liesl Kudelka said he had consumed drugs at the property after he was told by co-accused Ethan Lenny George Ross that he didn’t need the meth anymore.

Henry Cox has avoided jail. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“You went there because at 2:42 pm that afternoon you received a text from a person known to you asking you for a massive favour,” Judge Kudelka said.

“He told you that Ms Amy Bowden had relapsed on heroin and was not waking up, but her breathing was fine.

He said he needed drugs from you to administer to her to wake her up. He said he needed to reverse the downer with an upper.

“When you arrived at the house, he told you that he did not need the drug from you anymore because he had found two points of his own.

“You then used drugs whilst at the house and passed out.”

The next thing you remember is being woken up and told that Amy Bowden was deceased. You had nothing to do with her death.”

Cox, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a drug for supply to another person, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison or a $50,000 fine or both.

The court heard he had grown up in Clare but after moving to St Peter’s College in the city, he was bullied and became isolated.

He ultimately left school at the age of 16 and turned to drug use.

Amy Bowden as a young girl growing up in Victoria. Pictures: Supplied by family

Judge Kudelka said being caught for this offending was a “catalyst” which “enabled him to climb out of the dark place and get things back on track”.

She said nine references from friends and family demonstrated he had “come a long way”.

“You have spent seven days in custody for this offending. I am satisfied there is good reason not to impose any further penalty on you for a number of reasons. You have spent over 15 months on home detention bail which, in addition to the time in custody, is a significant penalty, particularly for a young man,” she said.

“I therefore record a conviction but discharge you without further penalty.

“So Mr Cox, you are free to go. It’s all over.”

Originally published as Henry Lachlan Cox, 19, avoids further penalty after being called to bring drugs to Amy Bowden