Teen killed himself after drinks

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An inquest into the death of a 17-year-old teenager found hanged in Bridgend, has ruled he killed himself while under the influence of alcohol.

Zachary Barnes's body was found in Brackla in August last year after he was reported missing by his father.

The Bridgend inquest heard he had been drinking the previous night and was twice over the drink-drive limit.

He is one of 17 young people believed to have killed themselves in the area in the past year.

Coroner Philip Walters told the hearing Zachary had drunk so much alcohol he could not return a simple suicide verdict.

Mr Walters added: "To find a verdict of suicide I have to find clear evidence of intention for someone to take their own life.

"In the ones I have done over the years involving this level of alcohol I have never been convinced that is the case. Alcohol affects your judgment."

Giving evidence to the inquest, a friend of Zachary's, said they had bought 24 cans of lager between them on 10 August, 2007.

Along with four others, they went to a recreation centre in the Sunnyside area of Bridgend where they stayed drinking until after midnight before returning to Brackla.

Asked if Zachary had seemed different that night, his friend replied "No".

Pathologist Dr Alan Martin Rees confirmed Zachary had died from died of asphyxia from a ligature around his neck, and said the levels of alcohol in tests suggested he had drunk considerably more than required to be twice over the drink-drive limit.

"That alcohol level is regarded as sufficient to affect mood and or judgment," he added.

Recording his verdict the coroner said: "Zachary Barnes killed himself while under the influence of alcohol."