Bullies blamed after suicide of 'Emo' music fan

A teenager who followed the music and fashion movement known as Emo killed himself after being bullied "because of his style", his friends said yesterday.

Sam Leeson, 13, who wore black clothes and was a follower of the darkly emotional rock genre, was found hanging in his bedroom in Gloucester last Thursday.

Classmates and relatives said he was targeted online via his Bebo webpage because of his "alternative dress" and involvement with the emo scene.

Emo (which is short for emotional) music, is described as "punk with emotion", and has been made popular by bands like My Chemical Romance, whose album The Black Parade topped the charts.