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Teen father-to-be hanged himself | |
(10 days later) | |
A teenage boy hanged himself after his 15-year-old girlfriend became pregnant, an inquest has heard. | |
Paul Briggs, 17, of Ferndale, Rhondda, feared he would be reported to police for under-age sex with Kyra Applin, the hearing in Miskin was told. | |
The couple told their families they wanted the pregnancy to go ahead but he hid his fears about being prosecuted, the inquest heard. | |
He died three months before the birth. A narrative verdict was recorded. | He died three months before the birth. A narrative verdict was recorded. |
Det Sgt John Pope told the coroner's court: "The couple met and she was pregnant just a few weeks later. | Det Sgt John Pope told the coroner's court: "The couple met and she was pregnant just a few weeks later. |
"Kyra's parents were not happy about the situation but accepted it. Kyra's father said he had never seen Paul depressed. | "Kyra's parents were not happy about the situation but accepted it. Kyra's father said he had never seen Paul depressed. |
"But a friend of the family said the situation was causing him some distress and he was afraid that if they parted he would be reported to the police for under-age sex." | "But a friend of the family said the situation was causing him some distress and he was afraid that if they parted he would be reported to the police for under-age sex." |
The baby is absolutely lovely - she is the spitting image of Paul and I will forever have his memory when I see her Paul Briggs' mother Angela | The baby is absolutely lovely - she is the spitting image of Paul and I will forever have his memory when I see her Paul Briggs' mother Angela |
Kyra then left the inquest in tears midway through the hearing when told of Paul's fears. | Kyra then left the inquest in tears midway through the hearing when told of Paul's fears. |
She is raising six-week-old baby girl Mia - her name was chosen by Paul - with her parents at their home in Ferndale. | She is raising six-week-old baby girl Mia - her name was chosen by Paul - with her parents at their home in Ferndale. |
Her father Graham Applin said he and his wife were "not terribly happy" when she became pregnant but they accepted it. | Her father Graham Applin said he and his wife were "not terribly happy" when she became pregnant but they accepted it. |
The inquest heard Kyra found Paul hanging from a bunk-bed in the bedroom they shared at her parents home in January. | The inquest heard Kyra found Paul hanging from a bunk-bed in the bedroom they shared at her parents home in January. |
Her father tried to save him but paramedics found him dead. | Her father tried to save him but paramedics found him dead. |
'Really excited' | 'Really excited' |
The inquest heard Paul had been drinking during the day - and the couple had argued about it before he died. | The inquest heard Paul had been drinking during the day - and the couple had argued about it before he died. |
Before the inquest Kyra said: "I don't know why he did it, we were both really looking forward to the baby. | Before the inquest Kyra said: "I don't know why he did it, we were both really looking forward to the baby. |
"I had a scan and we found out we were having a girl. | "I had a scan and we found out we were having a girl. |
"We held hands, we were both really excited. We even talked about names. | "We held hands, we were both really excited. We even talked about names. |
"I liked Michaela but Paul wanted Mia." | "I liked Michaela but Paul wanted Mia." |
Coroner Phillip Walters recorded a narrative verdict at the inquest. | Coroner Phillip Walters recorded a narrative verdict at the inquest. |
He said: "An argument took place but I don't think Paul intended to take his own life. It seems he was trying to draw attention to his circumstances. | He said: "An argument took place but I don't think Paul intended to take his own life. It seems he was trying to draw attention to his circumstances. |
"He died at his own hand but I don't feel a suicide verdict would be correct." | "He died at his own hand but I don't feel a suicide verdict would be correct." |
After the inquest Paul's mum Angela said: "The baby is absolutely lovely - she is the spitting image of Paul and I will forever have his memory when I see her." | After the inquest Paul's mum Angela said: "The baby is absolutely lovely - she is the spitting image of Paul and I will forever have his memory when I see her." |
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