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'Abusive phone calls drove Lee to kill himself'

10/10/2008

A FATHER is blaming the suicide of his teenage son on abusive mystery phone calls about his sexuality.

The calls began last year after student Lee Simpson confessed to his family and friends that he was gay.

Months later the 18-year-old used the belt of his bathrobe to hang himself from the bannister at home.

His father, John Simpson, of Ashdown Terrace, Blackley, told an inquest into his son's death the calls had "definitely" upset him.

He said: "Lee wasn't being bullied in a physical way as far as I was aware but he was very young in his outlook.

"He had no problem telling us he was gay but I feel he had trouble with the issue himself as he was quite effeminate.

"He was quite religious and possibly that may have conflicted with his sexuality."

Outside court he said: "I think he was finding it tough and I believe that these distressing calls may have tipped him over the edge."

Lee, who lived with his dad and older brother David, had left two notes. One of them read: "I cannot do it anymore."

David said Lee had received nasty calls from a number of unknown people.

"They called him names but he never seemed to let them get him down and he gave as good as he got," said David.

"We were very close and he hadn't mentioned any difficulties in his life and to me he was acting normally."

Coroner Nigel Meadows said Lee had been having difficulties regarding his sexuality and several years ago discussed ways of how he might kill himself.

Recording a verdict that Lee had killed himself, the coroner said: "It seems that he was not unduly troubled by the calls, certainly not outwardly, and was planning for the future.

"He had shown no signs of harming himself but it's possible he could have been struggling with some inner turmoil.

"But regrettably we shall never know what was going on in his mind."