A TEENAGER has gone into hiding after her boyfriend's family blamed her for his suicide, an inquest has heard.

Donna Keys, 16, and her family were given police protection and advised to move from Blackburn after feeling threatened and intimidated, the hearing was told.

Her boyfriend, soldier Brett Lee Thomas, was discovered hanging from the bannister of the Keys family home in St Aidan's Avenue, Blackburn, on July 7.

His parents, Susan and Frank Thomas, of Southworth Street, Blackburn, told the hearing they believed their 17-year-old son was driven to suicide after being tormented by Miss Keys during their volatile and abusive relationship.

Brett, a former Darwen Vale High School pupil, served with the Royal Logistics Core at Deepcut Barracks, Surrey, but there was nothing to suggest his death is connected with other suicides being investigated at the barracks.

The inquest was told that he began a romance with Donna Keys in February during a two-week visit home, left the army and was soon spending every night at the Keys family home.

But the pair argued frequently and during rows Brett attempted suicide in front of his girlfriend, the hearing heard.

Miss Keys was unable to attend the inquest as she was in hospital, but in a statement, said: "We had several arguments over petty differences. I have seen Brett try to commit suicide several times."

Miss Keys said that the night before Brett's death she had gone to bed alone after an argument.

She said he stayed downstairs, but she heard him come to bed later that night and play their special song by boyband D-Side.

The next morning Donna's mother Maureen Ash discovered Brett hanging from the bannister by a home-made noose, the hearing heard.

Coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a verdict of suicide.

Mrs Thomas wept as she described how she watched her son change. He had been a keen sportsman who played seven-a-side football for the Hole House Inn, Burnley Road, and had many friends.

She told the hearing: "Donna seemed to be changing him. He began to get in trouble with the police. She influenced him for the worse.

"One day he came home really happy and said Donna was expecting a baby. Not long after he came home very upset. He said Donna had thumped herself in the stomach and killed the baby. Donna was cabbaging his head.

"Once Donna's dad had held a knife to Brett's throat and threatened him."

PS Andrew Winter, of Blackburn police, told the hearing: "They Keys family have moved out of the area because they feel threatened and intimidated by the situation that has fallen upon them.

"If a person feels threatened or intimated we will work to preserve that person's safety."

After the hearing, Brett's father Frank said the family had been left with many unanswered questions.