Teenager died after '˜leaving late for train'

George Crossman jumped in front of a train at Portchester station and was killed instantly.

At the 18-year-old’s inquest in Portsmouth his mother Tracy Davies said his younger brother told her George left home for Havant College five minutes later than usual on the day he took his own life.

In a statement issued on behalf of his family, Tracy said: ‘George faced difficulties in his life, but was utterly precious to us.’

She added: ‘George was a gorgeous, loving young man, who was deeply loved by the family and friends who were privileged to know him. He is missed every day, and always will be.’

Tracy said it was hard to accept her son’s decision and the family are sorry for the impact on the train driver, passengers and station staff.

At the inquest she said: ‘He left about five minutes later and I think he missed his train from the timing.

‘I think he walked up the station thinking “I hate my life, I’ve missed my train again”.’

George had been late to a few classes recently, British Transport Police investigator Terence Hancocks said.

The coroner’s court heard George, who died on December 8 last year, had been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder in 2004 but this was refined to Asperger’s Syndrome in 2005.

At the inquest, his step-father Chris Davies said: ‘He had lots of friends at college and at school.

‘He was high-functioning, took 12 GCSEs and got very good grades. I got to know George when he was very young.

‘It was a constant thing, he would be very impulsive about things and if he did something and it didn’t quite go his way or something went wrong his over-reaction would be “oh my gosh”.’

He added in such circumstances he would say: ‘I wish I was never born.’

Mr Davies said: ‘As he got past puberty and started forming relationships expecting to have a girlfriend – he never thought he was going to have that.

‘He didn’t feel he fitted in with society.’

Tragically, the teenager had lots of friends but never realised, his mother said.

George had a ‘normal night’ the day before he died and packed his uniform for work at Domino’s and watched TV with his brother.

Returning a conclusion that George killed himself, coroner David Horsley said the teenager was academically brilliant but dogged by his Asperger’s Syndrome.

Mr Horsley said: ‘Unfortunately it’s an illness and it led him to over-react to things, to feel worthless.’

He added there was ‘no explanation’ for why George killed himself.

Witnesses said George did not stumble or fall and called the incident ‘deliberate’.

‘I duly have to conclude he has taken his own life,’ Mr Horsley said.