Kelly Yeomans

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Kelly Yeomans (1984 – 28 September 1997) was a English school girl from the Allenton suburb near Derby. Her 1997 suicide, at the age of 13, became widespread news when the cause was traced to excessive bullying to which she had been subjected by other local children.

In court testimony, Yeomans was described as a pleasant and friendly girl. However, she was reportedly the victim of repeated harrassment and taunting, particularly with regard to her being overweight. Yeomans's parents said that the incessant bullying left Yeomans feeling miserable. Yeomans's mother asserted that she had gone to school 30 times to complain about the issue, but received no assistance. School officials, however, claimed to have received only one complaint.

Matters came to a head in September of 1997, when a group of youths reportedly gathered at Yeomans home on several consecutive nights, and on each occasion throw food items at the home and shouted taunts at Yeomans. Yeomans's mother said that the incident prompted Yeomans to tell her family, "It is nothing to do with you Daddy, nothing to do with you Mummy, and nothing to do with you Sarah (Yeomans's sister). I have had enough and I'm going to take an overdose."

The parents said that they were concerned and sought help for their daughter's obvious depression, but that they did not believe she would follow through with her threat to take her own life. However, soon thereafter, Yeomans was found dead in her bedroom after taking an intentional overdose of painkillers.

After they admitted having done so, five youths ranging between 13 and 17 years of age were convicted of intentionally harassing Yeomans in the months prior to her death. At their sentencing, they were given attendance centre orders. For a time, Yeomans's death put into the public spotlight the issue of child bullies and their victims.