A TEENAGER who dedicated his life to music killed himself after being kicked out of his band.

Benjamin Smith, 18, of Goldington Avenue, Oakes, was found dead by family members on August 23.

He was found hanging from his wardrobe by a noose he had made from his dressing gown cord.

An inquest at Huddersfield yesterday heard that the teenager, known as `Ben', had been asked to leave his group Bikini Black Special weeks before his death.

He had formed the band with his friends when he was 14 and played bass guitar.

A former pupil at Salendine Nook High School, Ben was a self-taught musician.

The court heard that following the fallout, Ben was admitted to hospital on June 29 with cuts to his wrists.

The inquest heard that Ben had been checked out by his GP on June 4, was feeling fine and looking forward to a new career.

Ben then went out with his 16-year-old girlfriend Chole Szoradi, also of Oakes.

It was their first anniversary and they went for a meal at Vanilla in Lindley - the restaurant where they both worked - to celebrate.

They drank a bottle of wine each and Ben returned home later that night.

He spoke to his mum about how much he enjoyed the night, and showed her his new tattoo.

He confirmed to his dad that his split from the band was final.

Ben was found dead at 4.30pm the following day.

His 16-year-old sister was concerned when she heard her brother's phone ringing and found his bedroom door locked.

The inquest heard that a handwritten note was found in one of the bedroom drawers.

In it, Ben spoke of his love for his girlfriend and said that `Friends don't do that to each other', a reference to his band members.

Coroner Roger Whittaker read out a statement written by Ben's mum, Julia Smith, who was also present at the inquest.

In it she explained her son worked as a waiter at the restaurant.

But his real passion was music, and he enjoyed regularly attending rehearsals and gigs with bandmates.

Julia said: "He really believed that the band was going to be his career and his life.

"Ben thoroughly enjoyed playing in the band.

"On June 27, Ben received a call from a member, Matty, Matthew Whitehead, stating that the lead singer, Luke Fitton wanted to speak with him.

"Matty wouldn't say why, other than than he was in the same boat."

She said that Luke told him he no longer wanted him in the band, and that he wanted him out.

Mrs Smith said: "Ben was devastated. He felt that his world had fallen apart.

"On the evening of June 29 Ben cut his wrists and came into my bedroom, showing me what he had done in a distressed state.

"I remember him saying: `Friends don't do that to friends mum'."

She said that she felt that this was more of a cry for help rather than a intention to take his life, and the matter wasn't taken any further.

She said her son had not seemed depressed after the incident.

She said: "Ben appeared to cope with the loss of the band and he hoped that one day they would invite him back to rejoin the band."

She spoke of arriving home after work on the day of her son's death to find he had not been seen all day but that his phone had been ringing from his room.

She said: "My heart sank. I ran up to his room, banging on the door, shouting to Ben."

His bedroom door was locked.

"I then rang his girlfriend to see if Ben was there, Chloe said he was not and that she had been texting him all day as he was supposed to meet her."

Mr Whittaker asked Ben's grief-striken mother whether Ben had indicated what he might do.

She said he had not. She added: "He must have been so devastated and sad but he just didn't show it."

Mr Whittaker said Ben's disappointment in being asked to leave the band resulted in his cutting his wrists, and that it was clearly a cry for help.

He spoke of the night he returned home from his anniversary dinner and received phone calls from bandmates.

He said: "This would have excited and disappointed him and might have been a further factor.

"He said he clearly intended to take his life as he knotted his dressing gown tie to the wardrobe.

"I reach the conclusion that the only intention he could have had was to sadly end his life.

"He was quickly unconscious within a few seconds. I mean that in the hope of adding little comfort to a comfortless situation, Ben would not have suffered."

Mr Whittaker recorded a verdict that Ben had taken his own life, adding that these were tragic circumstances.