'Perfect' schoolgirl found hanged

A "perfect" schoolgirl from Wolverhampton was found hanging from her dressing gown cord after an experiment went wrong, an inquest heard.

Bethany Price, who was in all the top sets at Northicote School in Bushbury, was described as having plenty of friends and no reason to kill herself.

Police said the bright 12-year-old, of Low Hill Crescent in Bushbury, may have been reading books meant for older children and could have picked up the idea from there.

The youngster hanged herself from the post of her bunk bed on May 25.

She was found by her adoptive father David Price, a 29-year-old forklift truck driver. Paramedics resuscitated her but she died in hospital in Stoke the following day.

The inquest at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court yesterday heard how the popular pupil had been playing on a karaoke machine with her brother and sister shortly before her death.

DC Paul Wardle-Millar, of Wednesfield police, said Bethany had tied a simple granny knot. He added: "She had an interest in ghosts and the paranormal, as do a lot of girls her age. She was very bright and intelligent.

"She helped out in the school library and may have had access to books meant for pupils older than her. It would appear from the way it was done that this was something she had learned," he said.

Recording a death of misadventure, Wolverhampton coroner Richard Allen said: "It seems her experiment went tragically wrong."

Bethany's mother Elaine Price, a 30-year-old teaching assistant, afterwards described her as a "perfect, beautiful daughter with a kind and sensitive nature."

She said the family was getting ready to visit a relative on the day of the tragedy.

"The last words Bethany said to me were 'I'm just coming mum, I'm doing my hair'," Mrs Price added: "She was going through a phase that she didn't like her curly hair and we used to spend hours straightening it.

"She always liked to be of help and to be around people. She always had a smile and was full of life, making plans for the future.

"The tragic loss of our daughter has not only left a hole in our family, but a hole in our hearts that will never heal."

Mrs Price also thanked doctors and everyone at Bethany's school as well as Northwood Primary in Wolverhampton for their support.