14-Year-Old Boy With ADHD Found Dead, Bullied For Fascination With Horses

A 14-year-old boy who wanted to live a different kind of life is now dead in an apparent suicide. He was identified as Bradley John, a star pupil at an equestrian center run by Olympic showjumper David Broome. He was found hanging at the St John Lloyd Comprehensive Catholic School in Llanelli, South Wales by his sister on Sept. 12, 2018.

The body of Bradley was found by his sister and school staff at a toilet of the school. The 14-year-old went missing on that day. The teenager was often bullied by other students for following a different kind of life and spending more time with adults.

According to his father Byron John, Bradley was tormented by other boys from the school for his passion for riding horses. He even recalled his son telling him after an event where he competed how he was doing something different compared to other boys who stayed at home playing with their game consoles.

“After competing in an event I remember him saying: “I’m here while they are at home on their XBoxes. They are losers,” the father said.

Because of his different lifestyle, kids would torment him by spitting on his dinner, spoiling his meals and even sexually assaulting him. He would be beaten up and see his belongings being stolen.

It would, later on, be revealed that Bradley was suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a reason why he preferred adult company.

“It was horrific. We were trying to get through to Bradley that if he managed his reaction differently the bullies would get fed up and move on,” Byron John stated.

On the day that Bradley was found, the father was hoping against hope that his son was still alive. The father added that he reached out to school officials to closely monitor his son, fearing that there could be dire consequences on what he was going through - particularly about bullying.

An investigation is now ongoing on the death of Bradley John, someone Queen legend Brian May described as a “fine young gentleman.”