The heartbroken mother of a teenage boy from Leicester, who killed himself after an onslaught of relentless bullying, says her son was let down by the system.
Brandon Singh Rayat was found handed in his bedroom in August after suffering 16 months of physical and psychological abuse.
Speaking ahead of anti-bullying week, his mother, Mina, 44, said her family’s lives had been ‘ruined’.
“Those boys who were his friends once have killed him,” she said. “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 had been at that school since he was 12 and never had a problem, then in April last year one day he came home and just broke down.
“One of his really good friends turned to him in class and said: ‘I know where you live, I’m going to come round and rape your mum’.
“It got worse and worse over the next few months. He tried going back to school after the summer break, but they even bullied him on his birthday on 15th September.
“He came back that day and said: ‘I’ll kill them’.”
After being taken out of Judgemeadow Community College in Evington, Leicester, in November last year, Brandon attempted suicide on more than one occasion.
Despite calls for help from his parents, medical professionals refused to section him because they reportedly said he would feel ‘unloved’.
Mina said: “We feel totally let down, by both the school and by the doctors.” Adding: “I want other people to know that bullying needs to be taken seriously, as does young people’s mental health.”
A full inquest into Brandon’s death is due to take place until January next year.
Following his death, James McKenna, principal of Judgemeadow Community College, said the school ‘does not tolerate bullying in any form’ and would comment further after the coroner’s inquest.
“The whole school was extremely saddened by Brandon’s death, and our thoughts remain with his family,” he said.
A spokesman for Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, which runs mental health services, also said it would wait until the inquest concluded before releasing a full statement.
“We were deeply saddened by the tragic death of Brandon Rayat, and extend our sincere sympathies to the family once again,” the spokesman added.
“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.
“We remain committed to offering appropriate support to the family at this difficult time.”
