The mother of a nine-year-old boy found hanged in his bedroom has told an inquest that he was bullied at his primary school. Kelly Dugmore said her son, Aaron, was unhappy at Erdington Hall Primary School in Birmingham, and that it had crossed her mind that another pupil might have suggested he harm himself.
Aaron was found hanged in his bedroom in February last year after an argument with a sibling. Despite attempts at resuscitation by his mother, he died the next day in hospital. A post-mortem concluded he died of severe brain injuries. The coroner, Louise Hunt, recorded a verdict of accidental death, saying she could not be sure he intended to take his own life.
Following Aaron's death, his family claimed he was bullied because of his skin colour, prompting a neo-Nazi protest outside the school. Detective Inspector Richard Scott of West Midlands Police said officers investigated complaints of bullying but found no evidence of systematic bullying, though there were incidents involving different individuals.
Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board is conducting a serious case review into Aaron's death. Independent chairwoman Jane Held described it as a tragedy and said the board would share findings with the family to help prevent similar incidents.
