A teenage girl pretended to hang herself in her school toilets as part of a prank video inspired by a controversial Netflix series – a day before she took her own life.
Lily Mae Sharp had talked about the series, 13 Reasons Why – a show about a US teenage high school student who commits suicide – before she hanged herself at her family home on May 18 last year, an inquest into her death heard.
A day before her death, while in the toilets at Sandbach High School for Girls, the 13-year-old was chosen by the other girls and filmed as she wore a noose made out of toilet roll, apparently related to the Netflix show.
At the hearing at Crewe Coroner’s Court, her mother said: ‘I do wonder about that video.
‘She was watching a Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why, where I think that does bear some similarities.
Lily Mae Sharp had talked about the series, 13 Reasons Why – a show about a US teenage high school student who commits suicide – before she hanged herself at her family home on May 18 last year, an inquest into her death heard
‘She had mentioned it a couple of times. She had her own Netflix log in.
‘I don’t know for sure whether she did watch it or not but I know she had been discussing it amongst her friends.
‘I think she asked had I seen it and I said, “No”.’
Ms Noblet admitted that her family were going through a ‘tough time’ following her split from her ex-husband, whom she married when Lily was five, but said her daughter was ‘always happy and bubbly’.
Lily’s father, David Pearson, arranged counselling sessions for his daughter after she talked of feeling ‘worried’ and ‘scared’ about the future.
Ms Noblet had left the family home in Bradwell, Chehire at around 6.45pm on May 18 last year, with Lily left in charge to look after her younger daughter.
Lily’s mother called 26 times between 7.34pm and 9.17pm, and when she returned home at midnight, she found that Lily had hanged herself.
The head teacher at Lily’s school, John Leigh, said she was not a pupil of concern at the school and that while there had been ‘speculation’ about bullying, there was no evidence provided. Mr Leigh did admit he was aware of the fake hanging incident in the toilets.
Mr Leigh said: ‘As I understand it the incident was a prank related to the TV programme Lily had been watching, or possibly some of the other girls, Thirteen Steps or something similar.’
Lily’s mother and father, Victoria Noblet (left) and David Pearson (right) at the inquest into the death of their 13-year-old daughter Lily Mae Sharp
A JustGiving account has been created in honour of Lily, with £6,246.31 raised so far
The head teacher added on the day of Lily’s death, the 13-year-old had been called a ‘s***’ during a Snapchat or Instagram ‘live’ story by a group of girls, although he claimed this had no bearing on her death.
Some of Lily’s friend had told teachers at the school that she was ‘expressing dark thoughts’ and her mother was advised to make an appointment with the family GP.
Six days before her death, Lily had a meeting with the school counselor where she claimed she was happy.
Alan Moore, a senior coroner for Cheshire, concluded Lily had committed suicide.
He said: ‘There was no obvious pattern of troubling behaviour, no red flags appear, to alert family, friends, school to issues.
‘There was one or two episodes we have heard about, but not that would knit together to form a pattern to alert those who loved Lily that something was wrong.
‘This was an impulsive act on Lily’s part which, although deliberate, was a spur of the moment decision rather than something she had been planning for any length of time, but no less heart-breaking for her family and friends.’
A JustGiving account has been created in honour of Lily, with £6,246.31 raised so far.
For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see samaritans.org for details.