Schoolgirl Mia Janin, 14, took own life after 'relentless bullying' as boys tormented her online and in playground

26 January 2024, 15:41 | Updated: 26 January 2024, 15:47

Mia Janin was relentlessy bullied and took her own life - leaving her grieving father to say his life is over
Mia Janin was relentlessy bullied and took her own life - leaving her grieving father to say his life is over. Picture: change.org/Facebook

By Will Taylor

Schoolgirl Mia Janin took her own life after suffering relentless bullying from boys at school, an inquest has concluded.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The 14-year-old pupil at the Jewish Free School (JFS) in north west London was found dead at her family home in Harrow on March 12 2021.

Her family released a voice note she sent on WhatsApp to a friend that month, when she was about to return to school after lockdown, which said: "Tomorrow's going to be a rough day, I'm taking deep breaths in and out.

"I'm currently mentally preparing myself to get bullied tomorrow."

Read more: ‘Grace could still be alive’: Brother of Nottingham attack victim blasts police as triple-killer's sentence reviewed

She was last seen alive by her parents as she said goodnight to them at 10pm on March 11 2021.

Mariano Janin, her father, has now said his life "is gone", having had Mia taken from him and later lost his wife Marisa to an aneurysm after she got leukaemia.

"I'm still alive, physically, I have a heartbeat - but in other ways, my life is gone," he says.

Mia begged her parents to be taken out of school after relentless bullying
Mia begged her parents to be taken out of school after relentless bullying. Picture: Facebook

"I will never see my beautiful daughter grow up. I will never meet her kids, her grandchildren. There's no future for me, there's no future."

Mia's inquest at Barnet Coroner's Court heard how a group of boys picked on her in class, on buses and at home.

Male pupils kicked footballs at her and her friends, who were branded "Suicide Squad" by bullies.

A Snapchat group chat called "Panacha", which contained more than 60 boys from JFS and potentially other schools, was known to other children.

Read more: Constance Marten's baby 'was just 16 days old when she died,' court hears

The boys used it to post photos of girls at the school to superimpose their faces on porn stars' bodies to mock them, and would share nude photos of female classmates after pressuring them to share images.

Mia and her friends never saw the chat but knew they were targeted because it was brought up by boys at the school.

Martha Gentely, Mia's friend, said the Year 10 pupil was "very headstrong" about it but the bullying was "relentless".

Mia took her own life after being bullied
Mia took her own life after being bullied. Picture: change.org

However, North London coroner Tony Murphy previously said no evidence had emerged that images of Mia had been shared in the chat apart from one TikTok video.

She posted the TikTok before her deathm criticising two of her bullies, and that was shared to the Snapchat group - leaving her anxious. She sent the WhatsApp voice note after hearing about it being shared.

Mia had asked her parents if she could move school when she got home on March 11. Marisa said she could be homeschooled for the rest of that academic year and they could look into moving her after.

But Marisa discovered Mia's body at 6.50am on March 12 2021. She had hanged herself.

Two letters were left behind to her family and friends which said she had decided to take her own life.

The former JFS deputy head Rabbi Howard Cohen said there was "some talk" at the school about "boys-only bravado groups" sharing images of girls, but there was no reason to believe they were related to Mia.

He spoke to members of one group chat who disbanded it.

Mr Murphy said: "Mia's secondary school has introduced systemic changes following her death.

"Mia is much missed by her loving family, caring friends and the wider community."

Those feeling distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Alex Salmond

'Time stopped': Alex Salmond 'fell into arms of colleague' and 'died on the spot'

The Prince Of Wales And The Duchess Of Cornwall Attend "A Starry Night In The Nilgiri Hills"

King Charles to be snubbed by senior Australian politicians in major overseas trip

Hezbollah has launched the biggest attack on Israel since the October 7 massacre - as a barrage of drones injures dozens in the northern town of Binyamina.

Four Israeli soldiers killed and dozens injured in Hezbollah drone attack on IDF base

An armed man was arrested at a Donald Trump rally on Saturday - as police say the suspect was possibly about to make an attempt on the former President's life.

Trump in third 'assassination scare' as man arrested at rally with guns and fake passes in California

A former Premier League and international footballer has been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman at a London hotel.

Former Premier League and international footballer 'arrested on suspicion of rape at top London hotel'

UN peacekeepers have been left requiring treatment after they report the IDF forcing entry to their compound in southern Lebanon.

IDF forces entry to UN compound in Lebanon after Netanyahu says troops are a 'human shield for Hezbollah'

Countdown champion charged with stabbing rival gameshow contestant at a tournament

Countdown champion charged with stabbing rival gameshow contestant at a tournament

Police crime scene tape UK

Murder investigation launched after man in his 30s shot dead in East London

Mel Stride at odds with Boris Johnson over ECHR referendum - but says he will back Tory leadership winner '110 per cent'

Mel Stride at odds with Boris Johnson over ECHR referendum - but says he will back Tory leadership winner '110 per cent'

'These things happen’: Transport Secretary backs Starmer as party distances itself from P&O 'cowboy operator' comments

'These things happen’: Business Secretary addresses Labour division amid Haigh's P&O Ferries 'cowboy operator' row

'Scotland is a country not a county': Alex Salmond's 'final words' as tributes paid to former Scottish First Minister

'Scotland is a country not a county': Alex Salmond's 'final words' as tributes paid to former Scottish First Minister

Christopher Columbus 'kept secret he was Jewish' as DNA testing reveals Spanish roots, solving 500 year mystery

Christopher Columbus 'kept secret he was Jewish' as DNA testing reveals Spanish roots, solving 500 year mystery

Stargazers capture 'comet of a lifetime' in UK skies after last being viewed by neanderthals 80,000 years ago

Stargazers capture 'comet of a lifetime' in UK skies after last being viewed by neanderthals 80,000 years ago

Ministers set to axe hereditary peers 'by Easter' as Labour forces through bill

Ministers set to axe hereditary peers 'by Easter' with Labour poised to force through bill

Cluster of light brown galerina marginata mushrooms, toxic fungi specie from Europe

'Mass casualty incident' sees 11 children hospitalised after eating 'toxic mushrooms'

Coleen Rooney arrives with husband Wayne Rooney at Royal Courts of Justice

Coleen Rooney 'signs up for I’m A Celeb' in wake of latest Wagatha Christie win