The devastated parents of a 12-year-old schoolboy who hanged himself after being bullied have released these heartbreaking pictures of their dying son.
Dylan Stewart grew depressed just weeks after being targeted by children at school who battered him at a bus stop.
The youngster was found unconscious in his bedroom in Telford, Shropshire, with a ligature wrapped around his neck by his mother.
His devastated mother and father claimed Dylan had been persistently picked-on at Lakeside Academy School after he started at there in January this year.
They have now released these pictures of their dying son in hospital to show bullies: “Look at what you did.”
Amanda, 39, said he was often bullied for originally being from neighbouring Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, and because he was new at the school.
She added that Dylan was physically attacked on numerous occasions by youths who also branded him “Downey” – a reference to Downs Syndrome, which he did not have.
Now, in a message to the bullies who “made his life hell” Amanda has released hard-hitting images of Dylan unconscious in his hospital bed in the days after she found him hanged. He died on April 22.
Amanda, who runs a hairdressing business, but is currently off sick after suffering a stroke, said she hoped the photograph would deter bullies in future.
She said: “If it helps save one other child then we’ve achieved something. I don’t want other parents to suffer like he have.
“Bullies need to know the impact their actions can have, it has had catastrophic consequences for our family and we want them to see what they have done.
“Before he started school, he was outgoing, he was always on his bike but afterwards that changed and he became more withdrawn compared to what he used to be.
“Bullying did affect him, but he didn’t say anything.
“When we sit down at the table as a family, there’s now always one empty chair.”
Despite reporting the assault to West Mercia Police no one was arrested and the boys were allowed to remain at the school.
Dylan, who named his tormentor to his parents, even told his mother cops had investigated the main bully’s friend, not the perpetrator himself.
His inquest last week heard Dylan was a model pupil at Lakeside Academy in Telford, which boasts a “rigorous anti-bullying policy.”
Despite his family believe bullying was a contributing factor, teachers told the hearing there was no allegation he was being bullied.
Shropshire Coroner John Ellery recorded a narrative verdict that he hanged himself, but whether or not he intended to kill himself was unclear.
Russell Griffin, a spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “Lakeside Academy has an anti-bullying policy which includes generic sections for both staff and students.
“The section for students was put together by the students themselves.
“It is the nature of schools that bullying occurs from time to time but any incidents at Lakeside are dealt with very rapidly.”
