AN inquest has opened into the death of a 14-year-old South Yorkshire boy found hanged in his bedroom – as the youngster’s family claimed he was being bullied.
Ashley Banks, aged 14, of Coronation Road, Hoyland, Barnsley, was found unconscious in his room a week ago, on Saturday.
The teenager had been a pupil at Horizon Community College in Barnsley since September.
Ashley had never told his family he was being bullied but they said friends have come forward to say he was being targeted.
Dad Shane described him as a ‘cheeky and cheerful lad’ and said: “All I can put it down to is him being bullied.”
Paul Gallagher, co-principal at Horizon College, said: “The evidence from all the professionals who worked with him in and out of school suggested things were going well at school and there were signs of improvement.”
Ashley’s funeral will be at St Peter’s Church, Hoyland, on Friday at 1pm.