Inquest into death of Anti-bullying campaigner heard by coroner (From Cotswold Journal)

Inquest into death of Anti-bullying campaigner Roger Crouch

5:36pm Tuesday 21st February 2012 in News

A dad who could not get over the suicide of his 15 year old son hanged himself after leaving a Facebook message saying "Au Revoir, so long - or maybe A Bientot," an inquest heard today.

Roger Crouch, aged 55, had won national acclaim for the campaign against homophobic bullying which he had launched in memory of his son Dominic.

But ultimately he was 'clearly overwhelmed by grief for his son' and he killed himself in the garage of his home in Manor Field, Gretton, nr Winchcombe, Glos, on 28th November last year.

His death came 18 months after Dominic had leapt from the top of a block of flats near his school in Cheltenham on May 18th 2010.

Dominic had suffered bullying over rumours that he was gay after he had to kiss another boy during a 'spin the bottle' game.

The deputy Gloucestershire coroner David Dooley recorded a verdict of suicide, saying "I feel I can be sure of his settled intent to take his own life."

For more on this story see Thursday's Cotswold Journal.