A bright teenager took his own life after he was falsely accused of rape, an inquest has heard.

Jay Cheshire, 17, who was 'mature and well-liked', was at the centre of a police investigation when he was accused of rape.

The investigation ended two weeks later in June this year when the alleged victim dropped the allegation.

But just weeks after that, 'vulnerable and sensitive' Jay was found hanging in a park in Southampton. He was rushed to the city's General Hospital but died two days later on July 5.

Student Jay Cheshire, 17, took his own life after he was falsely accused of rape, an inquest has heard

An inquest at Winchester Coroners Court, Hampshire, heard Jay struggled to cope with the false accusations and was 'absolutely distraught.'

Jay, from Southampton, was a sixth form student at Bitterne Park School in the city studying English Literature, Film Studies and Geography and hoped to become a history teacher or a writer.

The court also heard he had a history of having a low mood, was put on anti-depressants and was due to undergo cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).

He had a psychiatrist since the age of 13 but in March this year his state of mind improved, leading to doctors agreeing that CBT was not urgently needed any more.

However in May, Jay's family contacted them once more saying he was under pressure because of the police investigation.

On June 24, just over a week before he died, he told psychiatrists at the Orchard Centre in Southampton that the investigation was over and he was expecting to find work.

When police arrived at the scene, they found Jay had left a note. He has also left a note for his family and one in his sixth form locker.

Jay Cheshire was found hanging in Riverside Park, Southampton after a rape investigation was dropped

Central Hampshire senior coroner Grahame Short recorded a verdict of suicide and said he struggled to cope with the false accusations and the investigation.

He said: 'I got the impression he was well liked and mature in some ways, but was a sensitive young man and vulnerable in some respects and he found it difficult to cope with the police investigation.'

Jay's mum, Karin Cheshire, 54, said that the allegation was a factor in his death and that the alleged victim said he was a sex offender.

Speaking about the alleged victim, she said: 'She accused him of rape and said he was a sexual offender. He was absolutely distraught. Two weeks later she said she withdrew the allegations.

'He was a wonderful young man with a great love of history.'

In a statement from Olivia Murphy, head of sixth form at Bitterne Park School, she described Jay, who was a student ambassador, as a hard-working teenager who 'embraced' sixth form.

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