'Alternative appearance': Sam Leeson was found hanged in his room

A teenager said to have been bullied on the social networking site Bebo has been found hanged in his bedroom.

Sam Leeson's family say the 13-year-old was picked on by other users of the site because of his 'alternative appearance' and his taste in music.

Blaming Bebo for his 'utterly pointless death', Sam's mother said the family discovered the extent of the bullying only when they checked his Web page after his death.

'I'm not sure what influence these sites have  -  but if they are a method of expressing things, maybe they should be checked more,' said 45-year-old Sally Cope.

'He was into his appearance and often wore his black skinny jeans. He was an alternative dresser and I think other teenagers did used to make comments about that.'

Bebo users who taunted Sam on the site have since left messages apologising for their conduct.

Sam was a fan of alternative rock bands such as the Foo Fighters and Slipknot, as well as so-called Emo music, championed by bands such as blink-182 and Good Charlotte.

The movement takes its name from the word emotional  -  a reference to its angst-ridden lyrics and melancholy themes.

It has become increasingly popular with British teenagers since its inception in the U.S. two decades ago.

Followers see the genre as much as a fashion as a style of music. Many dye their hair black and wear dark clothing.

Sam's sister, Emma, 22, said he had also been bullied at school over his interest in the music.

'He used to laugh about it when people mocked him over his dress sense and music taste, so we didn't realise it was anything serious.

'We saw him as always happy and smiling, but we now think there has been some name-calling about the whole Emo thing.

'We know some bullying has been going on. We do not want to attack the school, as they have been very good, but we are very upset it has come to this.'

Sam, of Tredworth, Gloucestershire, was found on Thursday by his mother, Sally Cope, and another sister, Katie, 12, when they returned from a short shopping trip.

A short time before, Sam had seemed 'perfectly normal', answering the door to a friend of Katie, Miss Cope added.

'He was such a loving boy. We all loved him very much and he was always telling us how much he loved us.'

Sam was one of five children born to Miss Cope and Chris Leeson, a 39-year- old builder.

The couple never married, but were together 11 years before parting five years ago. Mr Leeson has two young children with his new partner.

Miss Cope, a tutor who works with disadvantaged youths, called for greater monitoring of teenage boys in schools, particularly 'quiet, hardworking' ones such as her son.

'I have seen from my work that there are plenty of resources thrown at those who have become disengaged with the educational system, or society generally,' she said.

'But the ones who don't disrupt the class, who do what they are told, like Sam, can be overlooked.'

Peter Rowland, headmaster at Severn Vale School, paid tribute to Sam as a 'wonderfully creative' writer who would be a 'great loss' to the school.