Student kills himself after being accused of rape

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A teenager killed himself after being accused of rape in an allegation that was withdrawn before it came to court, an inquest has heard.

Jay Cheshire, who was described as "mature and well-liked", was at the centre of a police investigation which ended in June this year after the alleged victim dropped the charge.

He tried to kill himself two weeks later and died on 5 July after being taken to Southampton General Hospital, the Daily Mail reports.

He was found hanged from a tree in a park near his home in Southampton.

An inquest at Winchester Coroners Court, Hampshire, heard the 17-year-old was "absolutely distraught" at the time.

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

The court heard he had a history of having a low mood and was put on anti-depressants and had a psychiatrist since the age of 13.

Central Hampshire senior coroner Grahame Short recorded a verdict of suicide and 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 of the alleged victim: "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."

Hampshire Police said no action has been taken against Jay's accuser, according to The Mirror.