DANIEL DAVIES and GARETH LLEWELLYN

One of 17 young people thought to have killed themselves in the same community in South Wales was plagued by the death of his best friend, an inquest heard yesterday.

Leigh Jenkins was found hanging four weeks after Allyn Price, who lived in the same street, died the same way.

Inquests were held yesterday into the deaths of five of the 17 young people thought to have taken their own lives in Bridgend since January last year.

Coroner Philip Walters conducted hearings into the deaths of Mr Price and Mr Jenkins, as well as Jason Williams, Andrew O'Neil and Gareth Morgan.

Police have publicly ruled out suicide pacts and suggestions that internet sites played a part have also been dismissed.

Mr Walters has said there is no evidence of a direct link between all the deaths.

At the outset of yesterday's hearings in Brackla, he said: "I have said all that is to be said about the series of events.

"I have to look at each of these individually and that is how I propose to deal with it.

"The only thing I am happy to be placed on record as saying is that I hope these events in Bridgend, if anything, have been the catalyst to give us a national strategy covering the whole of Wales for young deaths."

The Welsh Assembly has said it is preparing a suicide prevention plan.

Mr Walters decided against a verdict of suicide in the death of Mr Price, 24, who was described as a "happy-go-lucky" son who was found hanging in the garage at his family home last April.

Pathologist Alan Rees said the amphetamine MDMA, cocaine and morphine were found during post-mortem tests, which may have affected Mr Price's mood or judgment.

Recording a short narrative verdict, the coroner said: "I would accept what Dr Rees has said that the drugs could have affected his mood and judgment."

Mr Jenkins's inquest heard how he was extremely upset at the death of his friend, who lived just a few doors away in Salisbury Road, Maesteg.

His mother, Beverly, told the inquest her 22-year-old son was plagued by images of his friend's face during the last weeks of his life and had expressed a desire for them to "be together".

A narrative verdict was recorded after the coroner heard that Mr Jenkins was three times over the drink-drive limit and had illegal amphetamines in his system when he died.

"Leigh Jenkins hung himself while under the influence of alcohol, MDMA and MDA and the cause of death is, as given, asphyxia due to a ligature around the neck," Mr Walters said.

One of the deceased, Gareth Morgan, 27, of Heronstone Lane, Bridgend, sent his ex-girlfriend a text message the night before he was found hanged.

He and Leanne Stone had recently split-up, and in a statement read on her behalf she told the court how he texted her about midnight on January 5. She did not see the message until 9.30am.

It read: "I wish it never came to this but I will see you in the next life."

A pathologist found that his blood-alcohol level was two-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit.

Recording his verdict, Mr Walters said: "Gareth has hanged himself under the influence of alcohol."

Formal verdicts of suicide were recorded in just two cases - those of 20-year-old Andrew O'Neil and Jason Williams, 21.

The inquest into the death of Mr O'Neil, from Nantymoel, heard he had been frightened by threats he received over money, including one that he would be shot.

He was found hanging in an empty house in Nantymoel by his mother and sister last September.

Mr Williams was found by his fiancee Sian Davies at their home in North Cornelly, near Bridgend, on August 23 last year.

The coroner said there was no apparent reason why the young man hanged himself in his garage.

At the end of the final hearing, Mr Walters extended his sympathy to Mr Morgan's family, saying: "I hope you will find a way to get over it."