My body, mind and soul are destroyed
Text of girl, 14, who killed herself after sex attack
A SCHOOLGIRL killed herself after sending a text message saying her ‘body, mind and soul’ had been ‘destroyed’ by a sex attack.
Megan Hoyle, 14, had struggled to cope after being molested at the age of 12 by an older boy who had been locked up for the offence.
But when the 17-year-old attacker’s sentence was reduced on appeal, the youngster – described by family as ‘vibrant, beautiful and funny’ girl – felt let down.
She first called her close friend Christopher Cozens, who heard her sobbing and pushing pills out of a packet. Megan then sent him a text asking him to apologise to her family and to tell her attacker that ‘he is the reason I am gone’.
She wrote: ‘I was strong once but that girl died when I was 12 years old, when he destroyed my body, my mind and my soul. Don’t call an ambulance – just let the drugs kick in and let me go peacefully.’
Mr Cozens told an inquest that he tried to call her a number of times, to no avail, before trying to get hold of her family and phoning for an ambulance.
The teenager – known as ‘Pud’ to family and friends – was later found by her mother Wendy Charnley, 46, collapsed at home in Blackburn, Lancashire, on February 20. She had taken an overdose of her mother’s medicine and died in hospital four days later.
Mrs Charnley told the inquest her daughter’s life changed for ever after she was sexually assaulted.
Megan gave a statement to police that led to her attacker’s conviction for indecent assault.
However, the case went to appeal and he received a lesser term in custody.
Mrs Charnley said: ‘Before the incident Megan was happy, full of life and very bubbly. But after it she was very withdrawn and angry and struggling.
‘After the reduced sentence, it made her feel let down. She had gone through all that and felt he just got away with it.’
Senior coroner Michael Singleton recorded a conclusion of suicide.
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.
‘Felt he had gotten away with it’