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A schoolboy hanged himself after being bullied by a fellow pupil who claimed to be a Satanist, an inquest heard.

Leo Street, 14, was found by his father but died eight days later on September 22, 2014, when his life support was turned off.

An inquest into his death heard evidence from his best friend at Beverley Grammar School, East Yorks.

The pal claimed one boy at the school targeted them, claiming his satanic beliefs allowed him to hurt people.

The teenager said in his statement: "I was really shocked to hear what happened to Leo and didn't see this happening.

"There was a boy at school who claimed to be a satanist. He targeted a few people at school, including me and Leo.

"He would put his arm around our necks and pull us to the ground or push us into a bush."

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(Image: SWNS)

The pal explained that Leo, who was a Buddhist, accepted that the boy was entitled to have beliefs.

He continued: "Leo stuck up for the boy's beliefs. He targeted Leo more because he could get away with it.

"There were also Facebook messages from the boy calling Leo names.

"Leo was a Buddhist and he was more tolerant and kind than most people. In some ways he was too gentle."

Leo's friend's mum told the inquest in Hull that at the time of their son's death his parents, Robert and Louise Street, were unaware he had been subjected to this bullying.

She was also critical of the way Beverley Grammar School, now an academy, had handled the situation.

In a statement read out to the court, she said: "Before the school broke off for the summer in 2014 there was a discussion regarding a boy who claimed to be a satanist.

"My son told me this boy made a point of hurting Leo every time he saw him.

"The boy showed Leo and my son the ten points of satanism on a website at the school which was seen by the school social worker.

"When a pupil claims to be a satanist you would expect alarm bells to ring at the school.

"But Leo's family didn't know about this until I told them and his mum was distraught.

"They are a family searching for answers and it shouldn't have been my responsibility to tell them about this."

The mum of Leo's best friend also said the school told her son to return to school straight away and to lie about what happened to Leo.

She said: "My confidence in the school has all been destroyed."

In a statement read out at the inquest, Robert Street described how he and wife Louise had struggled with Leo's behaviour at home.

He said: "Leo was a very intelligent boy who liked school and had good friends.

"But we had difficulty with his behaviour at home. He became argumentative and angry and accused us of being unfair."

The inquest heard that the day before Leo died he argued with his parents over watching an episode of the television series 24.

The following day he was in a mood and in the evening he argued over trying on new clothes for his holiday.

He stormed upstairs at their home in Leven, East Yorks., and was found hanging 20 minutes later.

On two occasions Leo expressed suicidal thoughts, the inquest heard.

Leo was referred to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in 2013.

Mental health nurse Alison Potts had a three-hour meeting with Leo and his mum Louise.

Ms Potts said: "Leo denied having suicidal thoughts. He only said he wanted to die when he was angry and upset but did not mean it.

"I did not identify any mental health conditions and discharged him from the service."

Despite this, Robert Street feels more could have been done.

The grieving parent said: "We have struggled to come to terms with his death.

"We feel let down by social services and we turned to them for help on numerous occasions."

The inquest continues.

If you need someone to speak to, Samaritans are available 24/7 by calling 116 123.