A 12-year-old girl took her own life after struggling at a new school and becoming 'almost nocturnal' as she stayed up in the night on her phone, an inquest has heard.
Angel Karanja, who was described as a 'model student' at primary school, found the transition to secondary school 'difficult'.
She skipped a lot of classes at Cornerstone Academy in Hamworthy, Poole, and told one friend shortly before she died on March 17 that she would 'rather be in hell than at school'.
As she became more 'withdrawn', Angel spent more time playing the game Minecraft and watching YouTube videos on her phone.
Her father, Eliud Matindi, told his daughter's inquest in Bournemouth that she became 'almost nocturnal' due to her phone use.
After her body was found in her bedroom in Poole, Dorset, at 7.30am, police discovered Angel had been receiving messages on Snapchat as late as 5am that morning.
A search of her Samsung phone and tablet found no evidence of cyber bullying or searches relating to suicide.
Angel left no note and had not informed any friends of her intentions, the inquest heard. She had joined the 600-pupil secondary school the year before, with her struggles affecting her grades.
Angel Karanja, 12, took her own life after struggling at a new school, an inquest has heard
Angel found the transition to Cornerstone Academy in Hamworthy, Poole, 'difficult'
Mr Matindi told the inquest: 'Angel was the light of all our lives and she brightened every single day.
'We have so many wonderful memories of her.
'She was a model student at primary school and never got into trouble and was polite to everyone.
'But I would describe her transition to her new school as difficult.
'It was much larger and she was very reluctant to attend. She missed a lot of classes and her academic performance was affected.
'As she got older I noticed she became more withdrawn and spent more and more time on the phone watching YouTube and playing games.
'I would describe her as almost nocturnal and she slept through the day.
'When she was in her room she would spend all her time on Minecraft.'
On the morning of her death, the father said he called up to his daughter shortly after 7.30am to tell her to get up for school.
After getting no response on three separate occasions, he went upstairs and found Angel hanged in her bedroom.
He called 999 and paramedics arrived but declared her dead at the scene.
Mr Matindi said: 'I shouted up to her it was time to get up three times.
'But there was no response so I walked up the stairs and I found her hanging.
Angel's body was found in her bedroom at home in Poole, Dorset, at 7.30am on March 17
'She will forever be missed by us all.'
He said he thought his daughter had 'turned a corner' as her attendance had improved and she had made a group of friends in Year 8.
School friends of Angel were interviewed by police and one claimed she had been bullied by a group of girls at a sleepover.
Another told officers: 'She said she would rather be in hell than at school.'
Dorset coroner Brendan Allen recorded a narrative conclusion that she died as a consequence of ligature suspension.
He added: 'Her intention is not explained by the evidence.'
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