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08
Dec 2021
Hearing begins into death of Harrogate schoolboy Benjamin Nelson-Roux, 16
A pre-inquest review hearing was held yesterday into the death of a 16-year-old schoolboy from Harrogate.
Benjamin Nelson-Roux, a student at St Aidan's Church of England High School, died in Harrogate on April 8 last year.
The North Yorkshire Coroner's Office, which is holding the investigation, heard that Benjamin was found dead by his mother while staying at a Harrogate hostel.
Benjamin's parents, Kate and Barry, attended yesterday's hearing. It was revealed they had instructed their solicitor, Ciara Bartlam, of Ison Harrison, to state that mental health was a contributing factor to their son's death alongside drug misuse.
In a letter published after their son's death, the parents had written about how their "funny, clever, caring" son had endured a "heart breaking struggle with mental health problems which he tried to fix with substance misuse".
The inquest will examine the multi-agency response to providing Benjamin with the right support.
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Solicitors and representative from the various agencies involved, which include North Yorkshire County Council, North Yorkshire Police, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust will now forward written submissions to the coroner before the inquest officially opens.
Jon Heath, the lead coroner, adjourned the hearing until another pre-inquest review hearing in January.
At the next hearing, the coroner will decide if further witnesses need to be called before the inquest opens.
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