A schoolboy sent a heartbreaking message to friends shortly before taking his own life, leaving family and friends devastated.
Layth Ali Maumoniat was found dead at home in Alwoodley, Leeds on April 27 this year, an inquest heard. The inquest in Wakefield was told that Layth, 12, was struggling to deal with his emotions following the death of his mum who had taken her own life 18 months earlier in similar circumstances.
His family said they believed Layth may have been upset on the day of his death after getting into trouble at school and being told he was being 'expelled'. The school, Allerton High, disputed this, saying they had found him alternative provision.
Read more: Heartbreak as man injured in horror Otley crash dies in hospital days later
The inquest was told that Layth had sent a message to friends on the night of his death which read: "Don't want to be attention seeker but think it's my time." He had sent this message at 10.10pm shortly before he was found hanged at home. His death was confirmed later in hospital.
Detective Sergeant Gemma Daley of West Yorkshire Police said the message showed suicidal intent. The officer said: "I think he was quite troubled and it was clear he loved his mum. He wanted to be with his mum."
She said Layth always wore a necklace that had been made using his mum's ashes. The inquest heard that Layth's school had phoned his dad on April 27 to discuss 'alternative provision' for his son which the family was said to have viewed as the same as being 'expelled'.
The coroner said the school had made arrangements for Layth to go to another school but had emphasised that he had not been 'expelled'. Dr Folasade Rotimi, a paediatrician, said Layth's school was trying to support him and exploring whether he had any learning difficulties.
She described Layth as a "very troubled 12-year-old boy" who was having problems due to a combination of factors including the loss of his mum and difficulties in expressing emotions.
Senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin concluded that Layth had taken his own life. He said: "A tragic feature is a parallel of how he was found and how his mother died."
He said: "I found this to be a truly heartbreaking case. A 12-year-old boy had to go through the dreadfully distressing experience of losing his mother and then being sent back to live with his father after several years of separation in the family. It could not have been easy for the father or the (child)."
The coroner said Layth's difficult behaviour at school were 'manifestations' of the distress he was feeling, "or frustration of trying to express the emotions of the loss of his mother." He said it was "an awful cocktail of turbulence in this child's life. I have heard evidence the school was trying to help."
The coroner said an incident was the 'final straw' for the school which saw alternative provision being offered. "I understand now why the school says it is not expulsion (and was) simply trying to find something better to meet Layth's needs."
The coroner said Layth had expressed his intention to take his own life. He said Layth had sent a 'farewell message' to friends. He said Layth's family had clearly struggled with difficult circumstances for many years and they had his sympathy.
Following Layth's death, his dad, Ali, described him as 'beautiful' and 'funny'.
Read next:
GMB fury at 'vile' Jeremy Clarkson after comments about Meghan Markle
Yorkshire dad beat cancer then slipped on ice outside his home - now he is paralysed and can't move
Huddersfield school to be given £3m cash injection for new pupils
The 12 lucky Yorkshire postcodes celebrating People's Postcode lottery wins this week
