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National
Kristy Dawson

Cops identify that girl, 12, died after being bullied but nobody was prosecuted, inquest hears

Police identified how a 12-year-old girl died after being bullied but said none of the incidents crossed the criminal threshold, an inquest has heard.

Charley Ann Patterson was found unresponsive by her dad Paul at her home in Cramlington, Northumberland, on October 1, 2020. An inquest into her death heard how she was given resuscitation but could not be saved and passed away in hospital.

An inquest into her death heard how she had previously tried to get help from medical professionals after self harming on two occasions. The hearing at Northumberland Coroner's Court heard how she told a nurse that she had been bullied online and she couldn't speak to her friends to reconcile due to being at home during the covid-19 lockdown.

Read more: 'Loving and bubbly' Seesha Dack, 15, tragically died after going missing from home in North Shields, inquest told

In a statement, which was read to the court, Charley's mum Jamie Patterson said her daughter had been sent a message which said "You're useless, you can't even kill yourself properly". She said that, around a week before Charley died, her daughter came to talk to her after being sent a video showing how to tie a knot.

Jay Patterson and her daughter Charley (Jay Patterson)

Detective Sergeant Lee Baldwin, of Northumbria Police, told the inquest, sitting at County Hall in Morpeth, Northumberland, how criminal offences were considered but none of the incidents crossed the threshold for prosecution.

He told the inquest: "In conclusion, there's nothing to suggest that it is anything other than suicide. From information shared from family members and professional involved its clear that Charley suffered some bullying."

DS Baldwin said that, although it's possible to find incidents and identify people who have on occasion said or done something to Charley, none of the incidents seemed to be "sufficiently over the criminal threshold".

He told the inquest that, as a result, no prosecutions have been proceeded with.

The inquest heard how there had been a note left following Charley's death. Andrew Hetherington, Senior Coroner for North Northumberland and Acting Senior Coroner for South Northumberland, ordered that it should not be read out in court.

He said: "I have read the content, it shows the distress and difficulties that Charley was facing and it's addressed to whoever."

The coroner is expected to conclude the inquest on Friday morning.

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