A TEENAGER killed himself after being threatened by a “fake” Facebook girlfriend, grieving relatives told a UK inquest.

According to The Sun, Mitchell Bowie, 18, was found dead on July 31 at his family’s home by his devastated brother.

Today his family said they believe his Facebook girlfriend is a “fake person” who doesn’t exist — an online phenomenon known as a “catfish”.

The hearing was told Mitchell had started “seeing” a girl from Liverpool who he had met on Facebook earlier this year.

But Mitchell’s family told senior Teesside coroner Clare Bailey, that they didn’t believe the two ever met.

They added that the Facebook girlfriend constantly made excuses not to meet Mitchell and sent threatening messages claiming she “knew people” in Manchester who were “going to stab him”.

“(She) was stalking Mitchell and had really done his head in,” said Mitchell’s sister Sinead, adding, “(She) would tell him to kill himself.”

In a statement, Mitchell’s brother Jay said: “She always made excuses not to meet him.

“She also rang the house phone constantly.

“When he finished her, she started torturing him.”

Having heard the threats escalated to threatening to burn down his family’s Redcar home, Ms Bailey asked the family: “Do you think he was scared for his life?”

“Yes I do,” said Mitchell’s mum, Lisa.

The inquest at Teesside Coroner’s Court heard that later in the year, Mitchell began talking to another girl who — according to Facebook — was the cousin of his girlfriend.

On the night before he was found dead, Mitchell sent the ‘cousin’ a picture message, apparently depicting him preparing to kill himself.

The ‘cousin’ forwarded the picture to members of Mitchell’s family.

The following morning Mitchell was found dead.

Ms Bailey said: “It would suggest that she didn’t take his threat seriously because she sent it to family members rather than the police.”

Mitchell’s sister, Sinead, said: “Police have never taken a detailed examination of who she is or what she is.

“She won’t say where she comes from or who she is.

“I believe the cousin is (the Facebook girlfriend).

“These girls are not who they say they are. (The Facebook girlfriend) is a fake person. Police have still not found (her).”

Ms Bailey said that, following Mitchell’s death, police went to interview the ‘cousin’ but decided not to “press too hard for information” because no appropriate adult was present.

The ‘cousin’ has since refused to provide a statement.

Ms Bailey said: “Police have confirmed to me that they don’t believe there are any suspicious circumstances.

“That is sufficient for my remit in this court.”

Having heard from Mitchell’s family about Mitchell’s character, Ms Bailey said she was unable to say beyond reasonable doubt that Mitchell had intended to kill himself.

She said: “I feel that (the picture Mitchell took preparing to kill himself) was an act of bravado.

“It was a show tactic rather than an intention to kill himself.

“Inadvertently, without intention, he has killed himself. Whatever happened has happened by himself.

“Whatever happened, he has died as a result of it. I can’t say he committed suicide.”

After Mitchell died, the outpouring of grief from his friends, family and workmates was huge.

Within hours of hearing the news, friends of the popular former Sacred Heart Academy pupil arranged on social media to meet to release balloons in his honour.

Hundreds arrived at the fields close to Redcar Fire Station, Sacred Heart Church in Redcar, was packed with friends and loved ones for Mitchell’s funeral.

If you or someone you love is in crisis or needs support right now, please call Lifeline on 13 1114 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

Young people aged 5 to 25 years can call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800

You can also visit communitiesmatter.com.au for information and resources on how to get help and give help.