Hanged teen death 'unintentional'

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A teenager with a history of depression was found hanged at a beauty spot near her home, an inquest has heard.

Jenna Anne Parry, 16, was found kneeling with a noose around her neck which had been tied to a tree in woodland near Bridgend.

But Bridgend coroner Philip Walters said he was not satisfied she intended to take her own life.

Since the beginning of 2007, 22 other young people from the county have apparently taken their own lives.

The inquest in Brackla, near Bridgend, heard Jenna had been referred to psychologists but had not cooperated.

In a statement to the hearing, Jenna's mother, Anne Parry, said the 16-year-old college student was "upset and low" after her boyfriend finished with her just a few weeks before her death last February.

Mrs Parry said: "She had a bad attitude and was always answering back. She didn't want to go back to college."

Mrs Parry said that her former boyfriend had tried ringing her but she wouldn't answer the phone.

'Not pregnant'

Jenna's body was found the following morning by a dog walker taking an early morning stroll on the common at Cefn Cribbwr, near Bridgend.

At the inquest, pathologist Dr Philip Brumwell said tests conducted at the post mortem examination proved Jenna was not pregnant, quelling local rumours she had been expecting.

Bridgend coroner Philip Walters said he was not satisfied the teenager had intended to kill herself.

He recorded a short narrative verdict that she "killed herself unintentionally with a noose".

He added: "There is no evidence in Jenna's case this is what she intended to do and this is the outcome of what she has done."

At her funeral in March, Jenna's family issued a heartfelt plea for other youngsters not to harm themselves.

Their statement said: "Let our butterfly be the last to fly away."