A teenager was arrested after a number of youngsters were hospitalised after taking drugs.

Police said that five teenagers were treated in intensive care after taking prescription tranquiliser drug Alprazolam, which is manufactured as Xanax, in June.

The youngsters, all from Sidmouth, were treated in hospital.

Police inquiries led to the arrest of 18-year-old Jack Bevins, of Woolbrook Road.

At Exeter Magistrates Court he admitted a charge of possessing 26 ecstasy tablets.

Prosecutor Lyndsey Baker said police were made aware of an incident when a number of males had taken an overdose and taken to hospital.

She inquiries led them to Bevins’ home and a number of MDMA tablets were found worth £240.

The teenager did not comment in police interview.

Peter Woodley, defending, said Bevins had no previous convictions and had made an early guilty plea.

He said the drugs were for his personal use and this case had had a ‘salutary effect on him’.

He had been excluded from his college outdoor adventure course and was now working part time in a local coffee shop.

Mr Woodley said the offence had had a ‘positive impact’ and he was ‘aware of the repercussions of his actions’.

Exeter magistrates said: “It was a large amount of drugs for your own use.”

They ordered him to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work, pay £170 costs and ordered the destruction of the drugs.