Schoolgirl, 16, killed herself after accessing ‘suicide chatroom’ on the dark web
A SCHOOLGIRL killed herself after chatting on a suicidal chatroom on the dark web.
Leilani Clarke, 16, felt like she had "no hope" after receiving disappointing mock GCSE results - turning to the internet's underworld that preys on the vulnerable, an inquest was told.
The night before the teen's death, Leilani had spoken to her mother about her results at their Bournemouth, Dorset, home - heading upstairs and logging into the dark online chatroom.
The next morning, she was found dead.
Giving evidence at the inquest, mum Bonnie said: "I have no idea how she found it but a 16-year-old girl should not have been on a website like that.
"I'd had words with her that night about her exam results and she took herself off to her bedroom after dinner.
"When I went to bed I put my head in the door and said goodnight but got no response.
"I very rarely told her off and just assumed she was being a teenager."
She said it wasn't until the next morning that she checked on her daughter, finding her collapsed in her bedroom.
Paramedics had rushed to the home on February 7, but couldn't save Leilani.
The inquest into Leilani's death heard the Twynham School student had drunk a small amount of vodka in her room on the night of her death.
Her mum was also able to trace the teen's suicidal thoughts back to September last year - five months before she killed herself.
A notebook was also discovered containing a cartoon alter ego, through which she expressed a number of suicidal thoughts.
The Dorset coroner, Rachel Griffin, said the case highlighted the dangers of the dark web, labelling it "the internet's underworld"
Mrs Griffin said "Leilani hadn't sought help from friends and family but encouragement from horrendous websites which prey on the vulnerable.
"Leilani was a beautiful, bright and creative 16-year-old who had her whole future ahead of her.
"She was a girl who clearly had very distressing thoughts for some time. The reason was worries in relation to her studies and education, which were compounded when she received her mock GCSE results.
"Finally I just want to say to the Bonnie and the family how sorry I am for your loss, as a mother myself I cannot even begin to imagine the loss you must feel."
After the hearing Mrs Mellor, who runs her own dog walking service, warned other parents of the dangers of the dark web.
She said: "Lani was our sunshine - a funny, beautiful and gifted daughter and we will miss her forever.
"We are broken hearted that she felt unable to share the things which were troubling her.
"It is so important to keep the discussion going on mental illness so those struggling feel they can reach out and get help instead of suffering in silence."
