Leah’s parents at peace 20 years after her death

18-year-old Leah Betts died after taking ecstasy

PaulandJanBetts willpour themselves a dram today, sit back quietly and reflect, before raising a glass to the memory of their daughter, Leah.

The “bright and vivacious” 18-year-old died exactly 20 years ago today after taking a rogue ecstasy tablet at a party.

Her death led to a highprofile anti- drugs campaign across the UK led by her f a t h e r, former Metropolitan policeman Paul, and his wife Janet, an ex nurse.

But the campaign was to unexpectedly descend into a dark, horrifying conclusion – and led to the Betts fleeing for their lives from their home in Essex and seeking sanctuary in Scotland.

Because ofMr Betts’ war on drugs, which he fought through newspapers, television and radio, he was placed on a hit list by Essex drug barons.

The couplehadnochoice but to leave their home behind, as well as their three other daughters, their son and their own ever-growing families.

The couple have since settled on Scoraig, a windswept peninsula on the far north-west coast of Ross-shire – off grid, off road and off the Richter scale compared to their old life in England.

There are no shops, the post boat comes three timesaweek– weatherpermitting – and the doctor has a surgery once a week.

But there, in their mountain fastness, cosy in their two-bedroomed but and ben, they have made their home. Their last one.

The couple said the 20th anniversary of Leah's death marks a bitter, yet paradoxically sweet landmark.

Bitter because the memories of that dreadful day – November 16, 1995 – will come flooding back, but sweet because now, at last, theyhave laid theirdemons to rest.

Mrs Betts, 66, said quietly: “We do think about her all the time. But life must go on. Life does go on.”

The couple’s water comes from the sky, their light and power from the sun and the wind, and their vegetables from their polytunnels.

Meat comes in the form of wild rabbits snatched by Mr Betts’ hunting birds of prey, Shalgair the Harris Hawk, and Phoenix, the red-tailed buzzard.

Fish, crabs and prawns come from the picturesque sea loch where they have their own 15-foot wooden fishing boat, safe and secure on their own

Two decades on, the couple seem to have found the safe haven they have been searching for. But it is a cost they have paid for their fight against drugs.

Mrs Betts said: “It has destroyed our family. They live hundreds of miles away. We have seven g r a n d c h i l d r e n now and we've missed all that too.

“The girls found it difficult to understand when I toldthemthat ifwehadnot moved, dad would not be here today. Dadwould have been finished. Dead.”

But Mr Betts, 69, added: “We have found whatwe've been looking for. It's the nearest toheavenI will ever get.”

foreshore.

HEAVENLY SPOT: Leah’s parents, Paul and Jan Betts, have found comfort – and a sense of security – living in their remote croft at Scoraig

Leah Betts died in 1995