Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Much Loved
Topics: Mental Health,
Jen Thomas
Warning: This article contains discussion of homophobia and suicide which some readers may find distressing.
A 13-year-old boy tragically died by suicide after experiencing 'relentless' bullying at school because of his sexuality, an inquest has heard.
Leyton Taylor died in hospital five days after being found unconscious in his bedroom, and an inquest at Norfolk Coroner's Court has been hearing about the horrific months and days in the lead up to his death.
His mother told the court about the intense bullying he experienced at Wymondham High Academy in Norfolk, after pupils found out that he had a boyfriend.
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Other students threw cruel taunts at him because of his sexuality, his family allege.
Leyton's mother, Kerry, told the court: "None of the boys in that school accepted him,” after they moved location and schools in 2024, meaning he left previous close friendships behind.
“They told him they would never accept him for the way he spoke. He was a sassy speaker, more feminine - not the ‘hard boy’ type. This wasn’t going on for just a little while," she added.
The headteacher of the school, Chris Smith, told the inquest that teachers and staff had been unaware of any issues before his death.
“He had some really close friends and formed quick bonds, he attended well. He always came across as happy and confident speaking to adults," he said, but conceded that they did learn 'afterwards that there had been remarks made'.
According to the Daily Mail, the hearing heard he was also having a hard time at home with his stepfather Kyle Townson, who 'slapped' him on the day he died.
The court was also told how Leyton was under 'pressure' to do more chores than his siblings as 'the other kids argued back', and he was also expected to be his disabled 7-year-old half-brother's carer.
His mother said his brother 'has Dravit syndrome and is prone to sudden epileptic fits…' and that her former partner 'Kyle would not be actively involved'.
Because of this, she confessed, she 'would lean on Leyton more. Now I see Kyle and me were the ones that made Leyton not be a child.'
On the day of Leyton's death, he had been slapped on the back of the head by his stepfather for letting his half-brother hurt himself on a trampoline.
His TV was also confiscated by Townson for using one of his siblings' bikes to go to the shop.
In a statement heard by the court, Townson said: "I do not feel like I treated him differently from the others. He was the only child living with us who was not biologically mine, but I brought him up as mine."
"Both Kerry and I asked him to look after [the disabled brother] quite a lot. There would be arguments because some of the other kids would not help out as much. Kerry would ask Leyton because the other kids argue back," he added, admitting: "I also did not do enough. I should have done more."
He finished by writing: "I will never forgive myself for what happened. I know I could have done more to help Kerry and this would have helped Leyton."
Coroner Yvonne Blake recorded a narrative conclusion, saying although there was no question he had taken his own life, there was 'no evidence of his intent'.
She told his mother: "You did ask him to help out quite a bit and the other children did not help out and you did not feel you got much help from your partner at that time.
"Suffice to say, anyone would be fed up – not just a 13-year-old boy or girl. He felt he was being asked to do more than anyone else, which seems like it's probably true."
Blake added: "He had never run away or had a history of self-harm. He could be lippy but there did not seem to be that weekend anything out of the ordinary, apart from being told off three times in one day.
"He's only 13. He's a young lad. He's probably up and down, upset, did not much like his school, did not like where he lived, had various things confiscated off him.
"It's [all] probably normal things happening to a teenager but they're not emotionally mature."
Ms Blake summarised the verdict as: "I am not sure he had probably intended to end his life."
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.