Leyton Taylor died in hospital five days after he was found unconscious in his bedroom in Wymondham.

At a hearing into his death at Norfolk Coroner's Court, his mother Kerry Taylor said her son, who attended Wymondham High Academy, had faced cruel taunts about being gay after telling friends he had a boyfriend.

“None of the boys in that school accepted him,” she said.

“They told him they would never accept him for the way he spoke. He was a sassy speaker, more feminine - not the ‘hard boy’ type. This wasn’t going on for just a little while.”

Leyton Taylor died in April 2025 at the age of 13 (Image: Facebook)

Chris Smith, headteacher at Wymondham High, told the hearing that staff had been unaware of the issue until after his death.

“He had some really close friends and formed quick bonds,” he said.

“He attended well. He always came across as happy and confident speaking to adults.”

However, Mr Smith acknowledged that after Leyton’s death, the school became aware that some pupils had made comments about his sexuality.

“We weren’t aware of them at the time,” he added. “But we learned afterwards that there had been remarks made.”

Wymondham High headteacher, Chris Smith (Image: Newsquest)

The Year 8 schoolboy, who was described as “bright, confident and cheeky”, was found unresponsive in his bedroom by his mother at around 8.40pm on Sunday, April 6, at the start of the school holidays.

She and Leyton's stepfather Kyle Townson started CPR until paramedics arrived and took over.

Leyton was taken to

© Norwich Evening News