Nicola Taylor dreamed of working in the emergency services as a paramedic when she grew up.

She was a beautiful and bright young girl with her whole life ahead of her.

But by the age of 15 she had dropped out of her final year at Headlands School and her addiction to hard drugs had begun.

During this year of her life she became hooked on heroin.

It was a substance that would consume, and ultimately claim, her young life.

Now her mother Catherine wants the drug dealers who prey on naïve girls like her daughter to be given stiffer sentences for robbing them of their lives.

"I remember the day I found out she was on drugs," said Catherine, 43, of Stratton.

"She had become friendly with a drug dealer who had taken her to London.

"My legs felt weak and I nearly collapsed when I heard what she was doing.

"Everyone in the family was gobsmacked.

"She was the last person you would expect to be on drugs.

"It was a complete shock to start with but over time I've coped with it.

"It was 10 years ago now and we've never hidden the fact she was on drugs.

"She received the most amount of help and support of any young child in Swindon.

"She went in for lots of rehabilitation all over the country.

"But her addiction got the better of her."

Nicola died on holiday in the Dominican Republic on September 20, 2005.

The 22-year-old of Elborough Road, Moredon, died from a heart attack after suffering withdrawal symptoms from heroin.

"I now know that even before going on holiday she gave some drugs away so it meant she didn't have enough to take with her," said mum-of-four Catherine.

"But that typified her in a way. She was someone who would do anything for anyone, even if it meant putting herself last.

"She was unique in her own special way. Nicola was always smiling and will be sadly missed by all the family."

Catherine said the cause of Nicola's problems were some of the drug dealer friends she kept.

"Some of the people she mixed with were the wrong crowd," she added.

"We need to get rid of these drug dealers.

"They seem to befriend young girls and get them hooked on drugs.

"They need to be given tougher sentences.

"I think that's the only way forward."