Doctor who supplied Matthew Perry with ketamine jailed

He pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution

Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty to illegally supplying ketamine to the Friends star in the weeks running up to the actor's death.

Plasencia was handed a two-and-a-half years jail sentence.

The doctor, who operated an urgent-care clinic outside Los Angeles, is the first of five people to be sentenced in connection with the death of the star.

Perry was found drowned in a hot tub in October 2023 at his home after taking ketamine.

Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett told Plasencia: "You and others helped Mr Perry on the road to such an ending by continuing to feed his ketamine addiction.

"You exploited Mr Perry's addiction for your own profit."

The doctor broke into tears during the hearing, speaking about the day he would have to tell his now two-year-old son "about the time I didn't protect another mother's son".

He proceeded to apologise directly to Perry's family, as he said: "I should have protected him."

While Plasencia did not supply the dose that killed Perry, he had been giving the actor ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death.

Earlier this year, Plasencia denied the charges but changed his plea.

He admitted to four counts of distribution.

He was facing up to 40 years in prison if convicted at trial.