A TEENAGE boy took his own life after being tortured by bullies – the third pupil at his school to die in similar circumstances.

Arin Lyth, 13, endured cruel taunts about his parents and had yobs hurling stones at his family home in the months leading up to his death.

He told a friend: “No one understands, everyone hates me. My only regret is having a life.”

His family said that when they reported the ordeal he was undergoing they were met with a “dismissive, arrogant” response from Northfield School in Billingham.

They withdrew Arin from the school when no decisive action was taken because they “were made to feel wrong for reporting it”.

At Arin’s inquest at Teesside Coroner’s Court yesterday, the youngster’s anxiety at his treatment by other pupils was made clear in statements from his family and friends.

Even after switching schools to Northshore Academy, Stockton, last year, Arin was targeted by another pupil, the inquest heard.

On January 11 this year. Arin told his girlfriend in a text he was going to kill himself. The youngster’s body was found in the early hours of the following morning

Teesside Assistant Coroner Jo Wharton recorded a suicide verdict.

After the hearing, Arin’s family released a statement saying that bullying “has no place in society and should not be tolerated”.

A spokesperson for Northfield School and Sports College said: “We can assure people that nothing is more important to us than the safety and wellbeing of our students and that we treat any report of bullying with the utmost urgency and sympathy.”

  • You don’t have to be suicidal to call Samaritans. Whatever you’re going through, call free any time from any phone on 116 123 (this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.