'Imagine what it's like to never hug him again'

A DRUG dealer who supplied MDMA from which a much-loved student tragically died has been jailed.

- By ROB KENNEDY Court reporter

Kasam Ali sold the drugs to student nurse George Harle, who then shared them with friends, including Nathaniel Pavlovic, known as Nathan, during a house party in Newcastle.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Nathan, 21 who was not experienced in drug taking, and others had gathered in the Rialto Building, in Melbourne Street, Newcastle, in October 2020 as another lockdown approached.

After taking the MDMA, Nathan became unwell and was dead within hours.

As Ali was jailed and Harle got a suspended prison sentence, victim impact statements were read from Nathaniel’s parents, who were in court for the hearing.

His mum, Beth, said: “Words cannot describe the utter devastation the loss of Nathan has brought to our family.”

She said he was “destined to have a great future in cyber security” and would have graduated with a first class degree.

Mrs Pavlovic said: “We didn’t get to celebrate his graduation, this was denied to us. He was also denied getting a job, getting married, having children. We are denied all these things because another person made a bad decision. He died alone without family or friends with him.

“We mourn his loss every minute of every day. I miss him asking me ‘what's for tea mum’ or hearing him shout at the TV when his favourite football team are losing.