Bullied Fareham teenager with autism took his own life after disappointment with GCSE results

Cameron Warwick, 16 from Fareham, was found in Fort Fareham Woods near Palmerston Drive on September 4 last year, having not attended college that morning.

The inquest heard how he struggled with autism and depression, having severe depressive episodes on a daily basis.

He had been bullied at school and didn’t get the GCSE grades he wanted to enrol on a gaming course at college, having struggled with stress during exam season.

Giving evidence, family and friends paid tribute to a talented artist and avid gamer.

His mother Kerry said: ‘Cameron was talented and always a good-looking lad; he was unique and I was very close to him.

‘But he would often be sad and unable to see the good in anything he did.’

Mrs Warwick said Cameron would bite and hit himself if he made mistakes.

He played on his Xbox most evenings, but just before his death had seen a breakdown in a romantic online relationship.

To pursue his desired course at Fareham College, he needed a grade 4 in maths – but on GCSE results day got a grade 3.

‘Over the rest of the school holiday his mood didn’t really improve,’ Mrs Warwick said.

‘I tried to comfort him because he did get six GCSEs at grade 4 and above, but he could only see the maths grade.’

Cameron also experienced bullying at school, with the court hearing of how other school students would throw things at him during the lunch break.

Friend Bill Ashcroft said: ‘One boy at school told him he was ugly.

‘He didn’t keep his mental health a secret, if something was wrong he would always talk to us about it.’

In a statement Christopher Robertson, who Cameron was in an online relationship with, said: ‘I believe Cameron was relentlessly bullied at school by other students for coming out as gay.’

Mrs Warwick said: ‘Even if some of it was banter he didn't understand it.’

Some of Cameron’s artwork was based on furries, animals in humanoid form, but a number of pieces also depicted suicide.

Detective inspector Nicola Burton said: ‘He was talented but this was a theme with his drawings.

‘There were a number of pictures like this.’

Coroner Jason Pegg recorded a verdict of suicide.

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He said: ‘Cameron had this background of autism – which resulted in bullying at times.

‘Not only did he take his own life, he intended to do so.’

Cameron’s family also issued a statement to The News after the inquest.

It said: ‘Cameron was a much-loved, gentle and kind young man.

‘His illnesses made it impossible for him to continue to live in a world which he did not understand, and one which made little effort to understand him.

‘We miss him with all of our hearts, and would urge others to be compassionate to other people’s vulnerabilities, or to share their own and seek help to avoid other such tragedies.’

An exhibition of Cameron’s artwork will be displayed at The Hub in West Street, Portchester, over Easter weekend in April.