An inquest into the death of Leyton Taylor heard in heart-breaking detail how he effectively worked as an unpaid carer for his family.

The hearing was also told the Wymondham High pupil had received taunts at school over his sexuality.

Yvonne Blake, the area coroner, said: "He was only 13. He didn’t like his school, he didn’t like where he lived, and he had a lot being asked of him.

"Anyone would have been fed up. It was a lot for a young boy.”

Leyton died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital on April 11, 2025, five days after he was found unresponsive in his bedroom at his home in Rugby Way, Wymondham.

Doctors confirmed he had suffered catastrophic brain injury after a cardiac arrest caused by hanging.

His inquest, at Norfolk Coroner’s Court, heard how Leyton had been living with his mother Kerry Ann Taylor and stepfather Kyle Townson, who had eight children between them in a "shouty" and demanding household, including a young child with complex needs requiring constant care.

His mother told the court she had come to rely heavily on Leyton to help manage the home where he was the eldest.

“I leaned on him more than the others,” she said.

“Looking back now, I can see we, me and Kyle, made him not be a child.”

Mr Townson said: "Leyton would do more than the other kids because he didn't mind. He would watch the baby, do the cooking and the dishwasher and go to the shop. Kerry would just get Leyton to help.

" I should have helped more. I will never forgive myself for what happened. I know I should have done more."

Leyton had struggled following a move from Dickleburgh to Wymondham, where he left behind close family, including an older sister and grandparents.

“He didn’t want to move,” his mother said. “He wanted to stay with his nan and grandad.”

At his new school, he was subjected to teasing about his “feminine voice” and was repeatedly called “gay”.

His mother said he had told her about the comments but had been reluctant for her to intervene.

“He didn’t want me to go into school,” she said. “He thought it would make things worse.”

His sister told the inquest the comments had become persistent, with one pupil telling him to kill himself.

Despite this, the school said it had not been made aware of any bullying concerns and described Leyton as a “happy, confident and gregarious” pupil who made a positive impression.

But at home, the picture was different.

Leyton had been forced to take on a significant role caring for his younger siblings - supervising them, helping with meals, cleaning and supporting the family’s daily routine.

“He would have to do much more than the others,” his older sister said.

“He hated having to help out so much.

"He wanted to tell Kyle to stop him from making him do everything. He would even have to get Kyle's phone. He wanted to come and live with me at our grandparents but my mum wouldn't let him."

Mr Townson accepted Leyton had taken on too much responsibility.

“He would help with watching the kids, cooking, cleaning, going to the shops, picking up dog poo," he said.

The court heard the weekend leading up to Leyton’s death had appeared largely normal with a family swimming trip on the Saturday and a fish and chip supper.

But there had been moments of tension. On the Saturday evening Leyton had been told off by Mr Townson for arguing with a sister.

On the Sunday, Leyton had been playing hangman with a sister in his room before being told to look after his youngest brother in the garden while Mr Townson lay on the sofa.

But he had been told off when Mr Townson saw through the window that the younger child had fallen from the trampoline.

Later that day he admitted to slapping Leyton around the head for accidentally shutting the younger child's finger in the door.

Mr Townson said: "Hitting a kid isn't something I normally do, it was just a reaction."

Ms Taylor said he was angry with her because he felt she should have been looking after the child rather than Leyton and that he feared "the social" would get involved if the child was injured.

A short time later, Mr Townson sent his stepson to the shop to buy him a ready meal, but when he discovered Leyton - whose bike was broken - had used his sibling's bike he removed the TV from his room as punishment because he said using the wrong bike "caused arguments".

Later that evening, Leyton brought his younger siblings upstairs for a bath before going to his bedroom at 6.30pm.

“There were no arguments when he went to his room,” his mother said.

Though she recalled earlier in the day Leyton telling her he wanted to 'run away' and go and live with his sister and grandparents.

"I thought he was joking when he said it but in hindsight I realise he was sad," she said.

But when she went to check on him a short time later, she could not see him in his bed.

“I called his name because I wanted him to come and watch the kids while I went out to smoke,” she said.

“When I walked into the room properly, I saw him and screamed.”

Emergency services were called at 8.32pm, with police, paramedics and an air ambulance team attending.

His mother and stepfather performed CPR until responders arrived.

Although his heart was restarted, he had suffered prolonged oxygen deprivation.

Scans at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital later confirmed severe and irreversible brain injury.

Doctors at Addenbrooke’s Hospital where he was transferred later determined there was no meaningful chance of recovery.

After discussions with his family, treatment was withdrawn and Leyton died on April 11.

His organs were donated.

In her conclusion, Ms Blake said there was “no doubt” Leyton had carried out the act himself, but she could not be satisfied he had intended to end his life.

“I am not satisfied, to the civil standard of proof, that Leyton intended to die,” she said explaining why she had decided against a conclusion of suicide.

“This may have been a spontaneous act without fully understanding the consequences.”

She added there was no evidence he had planned what happened.

“There are cases where people leave notes or messages or search history, there is nothing like that here that indicates he had been planning this,” she said.

Addressing his mother in court, she said: “I am dreadfully sorry for your loss.

“I hope you are learning to live with it and that it hurts less as time goes on.”

Ms Taylor who has since split from Mr Townson - the biological father of her four youngest children - was tearful as she shook her head and whispered: "It doesn't."

Mrs Blake said: " It is fair to say that his relationship with his step dad was on and off."

Addressing his mother she said: " You asked him to help out quite a bit because you did not get help from your partner at the time.

"Anyone would have been fed up, being asked to do more than anybody else. He was only 13, a young lad. "

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