An inquest heard that a 13-year old boy bullied by his county lines gang was forced to sell drugs at school. He died of an Ecstasy overdose.
Mehmet Altun, Bournemouth (Dorset), was afraid of the gang that ‘groomed him’ and wanted to escape.
The drug world was not safe for him, so his parents banned him from leaving the house alone in the summer holiday.
The teenager started texting an online dealer who promised to buy him the ecstasy.
Mehmet was able to convince his mother to let Mehmet ride his bike. Then, he took the drugs and then returned home in a stupor.
Before the seizure that led to cardiac arrest, the boy began to vomit and sweat.
Mehmet Alun (pictured), a Bournemouth, Dorset resident was scared of the gang which ‘groomed him’ and wanted freedom.
Metmet’s father Hulusi Altun, during the August march for Mehmet Altun
He was in a panic and his family dialed an ambulance. The paramedics were quick to arrive and give him CPR.
The man was taken to Poole Hospital, but he tragically passed away later in the day.
His post mortem revealed that he died from MDMA overdose.
Police are still investigating the case of a fourteen-year-old boy who was accused of selling drugs after his death.
Mehmet was a normal child until he became bullied. His inquest took place yesterday at Dorset Coroners Court, Bournemouth.
A gang then used Mehmet to distribute illegal drugs. When Mehmet brought a knife to school, police and social services were called in.
Metmet’s mother Aynur Alun at a March for Mehmet Altun last August
After being expelled, he was sent home to be educated for a month before being sent to school for troubled kids.
According to the Inquest, during his final months, the teenage boy became more isolated and secretive from his family.
Aynyr Altun was his devastated mother. She said that she was scared to allow her son out of the home.
He wanted to leave the house by himself. She told me that he never trusted her. It was then that I understood he needed to go. He was not allowed to go until the end of the month.
“He stated to social workers that he did not trust him so that’s why I offered some. He was constantly watching me, and I wasn’t aware of what was going on.
Valerie Musaigwa a social worker, was involved in Mehmet’s case. He said that he wanted to escape the drug industry.
Pictured by Mehmet’s Family: They had to close the shop as they mourned the passing of their teenage son.
He was forbidden from leaving home alone in the summer holiday by his parents, who tried desperately to keep him safe from the drugs. Pictured: In memory of Mehmet, flowers were left at his parents’ store.
“His case was brought to our attention because Mehmet sold drugs,” she said. He was involved in drug trafficking along county lines.
“He was scared of those and wanted to run.” Because there were drug-selling boys in the area, he asked not to enter.
The court heard that Mehmet’s family was unaware that Mehmet had been using drugs up until August when he returned home.
Mrs Altun said that the man had been riding his bicycle for about an hour, returned home to get his car and then went back into his bedroom where he laid down on his bed.
Yaz Altun Mehmet’s sister described the moment Mehmet became unwell. She said that she was certain something was wrong.
Inquest: She said that her husband kept telling her he needed to take a nap, while she tried to convince him otherwise.
Ms Altun explained that his face was red and he was sweating. He began to pace the corridor. He didn’t want to tell me the details of his journey.
“He would walk from one room to another and not stop. He claimed he felt great and at times spoke gibberish.
“He was quite paranoid. Because he believed there was someone there, he kept looking behind him. He eventually said he bought three tablets and took one.
“He claimed he was going to bed. When I replied, “Don’t go to sleep,” he closed his eyes and began closing them. I asked him, “Mehmet? Can you hear?” He didn’t respond.’
Rachel Griffin (senior coroner) said that Mehmet and his family did everything they could to safeguard their son.
She concluded that Mehmet’s suicide was drug-related.
Mrs Griffin stated that Mehmet, a thirteen-year-old boy who was described as being happy at the time of Mehmet’s death, died. His family was loving and supportive.
“It is obvious to me that he decided to use those drugs that day. His phone showed evidence that he had made arrangements for them to be purchased.
The only thing you can do from all the pain and suffering that you’ve endured is warn others about the dangers of using dangerous, potentially fatal drugs.
“He was a man with a whole life ahead of his – it would have been impossible to care for him any more. It’s so tragic that he chose to do that.
The teen’s parents spoke out after the inquest and blamed his gang for getting him into drugs. They also said there needed to be more to prevent children being exploited by criminal gangs.
According to them, Mehmet was ‘neglected by schools and social services’.
According to them, the biggest problem and the root cause of the crisis is child exploitation.
These children and teens are victims. However, they don’t magically get access to drugs. They are manipulated and bribed into such a lifestyle by their exploiters. Mehmet, unfortunately, was one among them.
“This crisis must be highlighted and everyone needs to raise their awareness because it is right in front and it can go unnoticed unless it’s obvious.
They use children to get away with their crimes. Their intelligence is impressive and their children are liable. They also become neglectful of the schools, social services and police.
Mehmet might have been the one who sold to another. That could have caused someone else to die.
“That’s the problem – regardless of whether they are from a supportive and loving family, any child could become a child victim to child exploitation.
“Even though the Coroners Court can only answer questions about who, what, and where it was, BCP Council is able to explain why. This is why this is happening. We need to do more.
Yaz Mehmet, Mehmet’s sister, works at Escapeline. Escapeline is a charity that aims to prevent child exploitation.
“No child should feel trapped or stuck in their teenage years because they are too afraid to say no.” Because it is possible to happen to everyone, I urge parents to be educated.