Mother's anger after solvent death

Ross Hooper died in January this year

A teenager who was allegedly assaulted by his friends after collapsing while high on aerosol fumes died from butane poisoning, an inquest in Swansea heard.

An expert said it was impossible to say whether an attack by friends played any part in the death of 13-year-old Swansea schoolboy Ross Hooper in January.

We've heard all the evidence now, but justice hasn't been done

Linzi Hooper

After the coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure, the boy's mother claimed she had been "let down" by the legal system.

The schoolboy collapsed in a car park in Cwmbwrla, Swansea near the Gorse Mission Presbyterian Church on 11 January.

At Swansea Crown Court in October, a 17-year-old was jailed for stealing jewellery from the body.

A 14-year-old boy was also found guilty of common assault and handed a 12-month supervision order.

But Ross's mother, Linzi Hooper, has expressed concern that the sentences do not represent justice.

"I feel let down by the court system," she added.

"I don't know whether there's anything I can do now, but I will be taking advice to see if there's any action that I can take.

Ross was found collapsed outside a church

"We've heard all the evidence now, and I know that Ross was inhaling gas, but justice hasn't been done," she added.

On Wednesday, Pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbetter said the boy died because of butane toxicity.

He told the hearing in Swansea there was no evidence to suggest his death had been contributed to by an assault.

But Dr Leadbetter added that heart failure could be triggered by "stressful circumstances" such as an assault.

Ross' death was the second tragedy for the Hooper family in four years.

His older brother Scott, 11, was killed in an accident in February 1998 on Fabian Way, Swansea.