A MOTHER disciplined her nine-year-old son for being naughty by sending him upstairs to calm down. It was the last time she would see him alive.

Callum Berry was found hanged in his mother’s bedroom, less than 15 minutes after being sent there as punishment for squabbling with his older brother, an inquest was told.

The coroner heard how the Berry household resembled any other up and down the country, as the family prepared to move from Holly Court, Northfleet, to nearby Waterdales. Arguments between siblings ensued and Callum stormed off to his bedroom.

But further disputes between Callum and brother Liam saw the Lawn Primary School pupil being sent to his mother’s room as punishment.

His mother, Louise, checked on him at 5pm and again 15 minutes later when she expected to find him asleep. Instead she found his lifeless body.

She and her partner tried to revive him but he was later confirmed dead at Dartford's Darent Valley Hospital on Sunday, February 19.

Det Insp Julia Chapman told the coroner that Callum had used a belt tied between the door handles of a wardrobe to hang himself.

The coroner recorded an open verdict, adding: “I am satisfied there is no question, in the light of this evidence, that he intended to take his own life. It is difficult to understand why he took the actions he did.”

the hearing was told that the family has now moved from the house.

* In February 23, the Gravesend Messenger reported how Callum’s mother paid tribute to her, “confident, happy” son after the tragic incident.

At the time, Ms Berry said: “We were all very close to Callum and we loved him very much.” He had two older brothers and a younger sister.