A man has been arrested on suspicion of malicious communications after a massive Liverpool fan was found dead by his mother.
Joel Crockett Devine sadly appeared to have taken his own life at the end of April when he was found unconscious in his bedroom by his mum at their home in Wavertree.
The 19-year-old, a talented drama student who had also studied business administration, could not be saved. The inquest is yet to be held.
Today, it has emerged inquiries into Joel's sudden death have recently been handed back to detectives at Merseyside Police to probe possible criminal offences.
It is because allegations have come to light, suggesting the massive Liverpool FC fan had been a victim of bullying in the weeks and months before his death.
The ECHO can reveal a man, 18, from Croxteth, was arrested for possible malicious communications.
He was detained on suspicion of sharing material with intent to cause distress following allegations material was shared during 2018.
His phone has been analysed for any potentially-criminal content or messages.
The teen suspect was arrested in July.
He has been quizzed and was released on bail.
On Wednesday, an inquest review hearing was adjourned for around three months to allow investigations to continue.
Online, his heartbroken mum Ruth last Friday posted a long and heartrending message about her beloved son.
She has set up a new Facebook group called "Raising awareness, suicide due to bullying and preying on the vulnerable."
The 52-year-old said: "My story is about my son Joel Thomas Crockett Devine who sadly took his life, at aged 19.
"Today, I am broken and feel I will never recover.
"My beautiful boy's legacy will live on, but please could you help me with my plight and my fight to raise awareness to a number of failings, not just for my son, but for many others who are facing or faced with similar situations."
The mum-of-four added: "My boy, Joel, could see no badness in anyone.
"He was vulnerable, he wanted to be loved and accepted and on some occasions fell prey to people who stole from him who lied in order to make a quick buck.
"Joel’s letdowns and disappointments were many.
"As a mother, I allowed my beautiful son some freedom in this wicked world he didn’t understand or knew very little about.
"His purity and innocence made him so special, but for others was seen as an easy target."
Today, around 10 relatives, including mum Ruth, his dad Jimmy, 67, and grandmother Therese, attended the short court hearing in Kirkdale.
Many of the family were wearing red T-shirts, emblazoned with the teen's photo, and the message "RIP Joel" on the front and "YNWA [You'll Never Walk Alone] on the back.
Joel died on April 26 after apparently hanging himself.
In May, his family spoke to the ECHO about the "truly special" boy who "made everyone laugh."
They heartrendingly told how his mum had discovered him and ran out of the house, screaming for help.
Three months ago, Joel's older sister Natalie said her brother's death had been a huge shock and how the sibling had "never suggested anything to anyone that he was struggling".
The aspiring actor had recently completed a drama course at the Arts Centre, part of Liverpool Community College and his family believed he was excited about his future.
Joel, who went to Bank View High School in Fazakerley, had spoken to his dad Jimmy on the night he apparently hung himself and "had seemed fine," the parent said.
Father and son often exchanged banter with his son over their competing allegiances between Liverpool and Everton FC.
An online fundraising effort amassed £4,500 for his funeral and for donations towards mental health charity MIND.
