A DAD from Ramsbottom was driven to suicide after sick rumours he was one of James Bulger’s killers, his grieving mum has claimed.

Scott Bradley, 36, who grew up in Fir Street, endured months of abuse after malicious gossips accused him of being murderer Robert Thompson.

The former St Paul’s CofE Primary School and Woodhey High School pupil was found dead on Saturday by his mother Sue.

She has told how her son’s life became a ‘living hell’ after a hate mob in the seaside village of Garlieston, Wigtownshire, Scotland, turned on him over a play about the sickening killing.

Scott, who moved to Scotland seven years ago, described his agony in a heartbreaking suicide note which read: “They called me all sorts - a paedophile, a follower of young girls, walking around bullying old people.

“The list is endless. And I’m supposed to be a child killer.”

Sue said: “I don’t know why it started, but we now know how it’s ended. My son was tormented by the allegations. He had a good heart and didn’t deserve this. It’s been heartbreaking.

“He kept saying ‘I’ve had enough, I’m going to kill myself’, but I didn’t believe him.”

The rumours apparently began after playwright Des Dillon penned a fictional work about Thompson moving to a remote coastal village in Galloway.

Thompson and accomplice Jon Venables, now both 29, murdered two-year-old James after abducting him in Liverpool in 1993 and were released in 2001.

Sue described how the pressure had built up on Scott over last 12 months and that she was also targeted by locals who called her Myra Hindley.

She said: “These nasty people stuck the knife in and twisted it.”

“His life was a living hell. He was unable to find work locally as everyone knew about the rumours. I hope these people are happy with what they’ve done.”

A Dumfries and Galloway police spokesman said Scott’s death was not being treated as suspicious and a report has been sent to the procurator fiscal.