Jason Pulman

Jason Pulman was an English transgender boy from East Sussex who died by suicide at the age of 15. The inquest into his death found that systemic failures by multiple organisations involved in his care, including the police, potentially contributed to his death. His death led to media attention, an inquest, a prevention of future deaths report, and legal action against Sussex Police in the High Court.

Background

A statue of Sigmund Freud in front of the Tavistock Centre, at which the GIDS was based.

Pulman was the eldest of five siblings, was described as a talented artist, and was known to social services throughout his life. He had a complex history of psychological trauma, mental illness, serious self-harm, and substance misuse, including a previous overdose. Pulman was a student at Bexhill College in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. He was later re-referred to GIDS by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in March 2021.

The inquest found that the information provided in the initial 999 call was not properly transcribed by the call handler, and this inaccurate summary was subsequently relied upon by other officers.

Inquest

An inquest into Pulman's death was held at Hastings Coroner's Court from 8 to 12 April 2024.

Legal case against Sussex Police

In April 2025, Pulman's mother and stepfather launched legal action against Sussex Police in the High Court, alleging a breach of Pulman's human rights. The claim, brought forward by the law firm Bindmans LLP, is in response to the police's handling of Pulman's disappearance before his death. The family contends that the force's delayed and inadequate response contributed to the 15-year-old's death by suicide. They say that, despite being notified of Jason's vulnerabilities, a police officer did not attend their home for nearly 10 hours. The family say they are seeking to ensure accountability and change within the police force, which has offered condolences but declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.