Indian-origin boy hangs himself after being bullied in UK

London: A 15-year-old Indian-origin boy hanged himself to death allegedly after being bullied in a school in the city of Leicester in the East Midlands region of England.

Brandon Singh Rayat died in August but his mother, Mina Rayat, decided to speak out today at the start of National Anti-Bullying Week. "I begged doctors to hospitalise him because it was all too much. I told them he wanted to kill himself," she told 'Leicester Mercury' newspaper.

"Although Brandon received help, he was never detained. His anxiety got worse so that it became a complete phobia. He wouldn't leave the house in case he bumped into anyone from school," the 44-year-old added. A full inquest into Brandon s death will take place in January.

He was found hanged in his bedroom with a scarf on August 9, after several failed suicide attempts including drinking bleach as well as slashing his wrists. The teenager became suicidal after his schoolmates started calling him a "paedo" and a "faggot" as part of prolonged cyber attacks. He stopped attending Judgemeadow Community College in Leicester last November.

Mina, a hair and beauty therapist who lives with her 41-year-old husband Raj, a shop worker, said: "We feel totally let down, by both the school and by the doctors. Those boys who were his friends once have killed him. They have taken his life away and they have ruined our lives. There is a hole left in our hearts and there was no need for it. He deserved better treatment. I wouldn't want any other parent to go through what I've been through."

James McKenna, principal of Judgemeadow Community College, said: "The whole school was extremely saddened by Brandon's death, and our thoughts remain with his family. It wouldn't be appropriate to comment in detail in advance of the coroner's inquest, but we can say that Judgemeadow takes the welfare of its pupils very seriously and does not tolerate bullying in any form."

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, which runs mental health services, said: "We were deeply saddened by the tragic death of Brandon Rayat, and extend our sincere sympathies to the family once again. We met with the family immediately after Brandon's death, and their comments are reflected in the robust serious incident investigation which we have carried out." The report will be shared with the family in preparation for the inquest in January.

"It would be inappropriate for us to comment further until that inquest has taken place. In the meanwhile, we remain committed to offering appropriate support to the family at this difficult time," the spokesperson said.