Schoolboy, 9, hanged himself at home after being ‘bullied at new school’

A nine-year-old boy hanged himself at his home after being tormented by bullies at his new school, his devastated family revealed today.

Police are now investigating what caused tragic Aaron Dugmore to take his own life on Monday evening.

Emergency crews, including paramedics and police, rushed to the property on Tyburn Road, Erdington, Birmingham, after mum Kelly Dugmore, 22, found Aaron at 6pm.

He was rushed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest but despite desperate attempts by doctors to revive him he died on Tuesday.

Today it emerged Aaron had been suffering relentless bullying by fellow pupils at Erdington Hall Primary School.

The school, which caters for 450 pupils aged 3-11, received an “inadequate” rating by Ofsted inspectors last year.

Aaron had started in Year 5 recently but, according to staff, had already “settled in quickly” with his classmates.

Family and friends have paid emotional tributes to the popular lad on Facebook.

Cousin Jack Jones wrote: “RIP Aaron gone but not forgotten.

“You can rest now with nobody to hurt you. We will always miss you.”

Hayley O’Dwyer said: “RIP Aaron Dugmore, no one will hurt you anymore.”

Pal Bernadette Farrell added: “Such a lovely looking little man RIP angel sweet dreams.”

His gran Toni Dugmore, 49, from Birmingham, even put a poster condemning bullying on her own Facebook page.

She wrote: “I AM AGAINST BULLYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

A neighbour said yesterday: “Toni is in absolute bits.

“She’s crushed by Aaron’s death. Apparently he had been targeted by a gang of older bullies at the school.

“They made fun of him because he was the new kid but no one really thought it was any more than playground stuff.”

Erdington Hall head teacher Martyn Collin sent a letter home to parents on Thursday informing them of Aaron’s death.

He wrote: “We have spoken to all of our junior children and shared this tragic news with them.

“We have explained to the children that there are some things that they can do at this time if they feel upset.

“The school will remain open but we will fully understand that you may choose for your child to be at home if they are upset.”

Aaron, whose last picture Kelly uploaded to her Facebook page hours after his death, shows him sitting in a Santa sleigh grinning next to Father Christmas.

She wrote: “Its better to have loved and lost,then never to have loved at all. Xxxx”

Tragically, Aaron had just become a big brother after Kelly gave birth to baby Grace last September.

A spokesman for the school said: “The teachers, support staff and Governors of Erdington Hall are deeply saddened by the news that Aaron Dugmore died on Tuesday this week.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Aaron’s family at this difficult time.

“Although Aaron had only been at the school a short time he had settled quickly into Year 5 and begun to work well in his small tutor group.

“The school are working closely with the local authority to offer support to pupils and staff.”

West Midlands Police said the death had been referred to the Birmingham Coroner.

Detective Inspector David Wallbank said: “We are working closely with specialists from the health services, children’s services and the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board to fully investigate the circumstances of this tragic death.

“The coroner has been notified.”