The horrific photo of her dead friend that put Cheryl Cole off drugs forever
It was a photo that shocked the nation - talented footballer John Courtney lay dead on the floor, still clasping the syringe that took his life.
The image was released by the 21-year-old's family to warn others off drugs, but for Cheryl Cole it was not just another tragic news story.
The Newcastle youth was one of her closest friends and his undignified death turned her into a staunch anti-drugs crusader.
Devastating: John Courtney, 21, a talented footballer once tipped to to be the next Alan Shearer, lying dead and clutching the syringe of heroin that killed him
The X Factor star said: 'It put me off drugs for life. That nightmare devastated all John's family and friends.'
Cheryl, 25, met John at school when they were teenagers. The talented footballer was at 17 tipped to follow in the footsteps of Newcastle hero Alan Shearer, but his dreams collapsed when he first tried heroin.
He soon developed a £90-a-day habit that led to his imprisonment for stealing.
Cheryl, already a member of Girls Aloud, visited his home and pleaded with him to kick the drugs.
In new book Cheryl Cole: The Unauthorised Biography, John's mother Angie, 49, reveals that the pop star wrote him a letter begging him not to destroy his life.
Anti-drugs: X Factor judge Cheryl Cole, pictured in London yesterday, has spoken out against drugs following the death of her close friend John Courtney
'He kept the note on the wall to remind him he had to keep battling,' she said.
But on April 2, 2005, John's body was found curled up on the floor, shirt off and riddled with track marks.
Cheryl, who has always been anti-drugs, sent flowers to his family, who released the photo, taken by police, to warn others about the dangers of taking heroin.
'Cheryl's were among the first to arrive. This just shows how down to earth she is and how she'll never forget her roots,' said Mrs Courtney.
Cheryl plans to open up a support network for the families and friends of drug addicts when Girls Aloud eventually disband.
But she added: 'I don't have any sympathy for addicts. That might sound harsh, but I don't give a f***.
'If they're in pain because of drugs, it's self-inflicted. You know what you're doing when you take it.
'Heroin was there for the taking. I could easily have taken that route. Where I come from everyone is exposed to drugs. I was strong enough to resist it.'
Cheryl has since spoken out against other celebrities for glamourising drug use.
'To see photos of Doherty glamourising the habit, with Kate Moss on his arm, too. it makes me sick,' she said.
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