A teenager was found hanging in his bedroom in Margate after being bullied for being autistic, an inquest has heard today.

Stefan Kluibenschadl, 15, was taunted by people he encountered in his holiday and weekend job as a butcher's assistant.

His father, retired policeman Tristan Kluibenschadl, told the hearing at County Hall in Maidstone: "He didn't die of autism, he died of ignorance and cruelty because of autism."

His mother, Emma Kluibenschadl, said: "He was an intelligent young man who really believed in other people.

"He stuck up for others but he said: 'No one sticks up for me, mum.'"

Stefan was found by his father suspended in his room but still alive on March 20 this year.

He ended up being flown to the specialist King's College Hospital in London where he died six days later after being in a coma.

Mr Kluibenschadl told the hearing that Stefan was discovered to have problems at the age of three years and nine months. He had been found to be struggling with his speech compared with his peers.

Yet he later proved to be academically bright, for example doing well in his mock GCSEs.

Stefan's parents told the hearing they fought with relevant authorities over the years to get him the help he needed.

He was not diagnosed with being autistic until January 2012 and was later found to also be dyslexic.

Mr Kluibenschadl said: "There is a cultural ignorance and unwillingness in society and a failure of systems and provision of services.

"Stefan also died from a failure of authorities to provide services."

"He stuck up for others but he said: 'No one sticks up for me, mum'."

He added that his son had started his part time job in summer 2020 and at first thrived in it but ended up being picked on so much that he quit the post and became withdrawn.

Stefan also ended up trying to hide from people the fact that he attended a specialist school.

Mr Kluibenschadl said Stefan was told "no one would go out with him" because of the school he went to.

"They drained every bit of his self-confidence until he felt he was worthless," he said.

"He wore a face mask and baseball cap so no one would see him going to the school."

The inquest, presided by North East Kent Coroner Catherine Wood, is expected to conclude tomorrow after all other witnesses have given evidence.