A teenager tried to kill himself after finding out that the boy he had fallen in love with over the internet was a fictitious character created by his best friend, a court heard.

The 16-year-old boy swallowed 60 painkilling tablets after discovering that he was the victim of a hoax.

Described as a cyber-bully by prosecutors at Brighton Youth Court, the 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was told that he could go to jail after admitting one charge of harassment.

Magistrates heard that the pair were best friends until the victim drew pictures of the bully that embarrassed him in front of friends.

In revenge he created a profile for a fictitious boy called Callum on Bebo, the social networking site, and started a fake relationship with his friend. As the messages, sent over three months, became increasingly personal and sexual, the bully showed the correspondence to other friends.

Simon Drew, for the prosecution, said: “Callum started contact and left messages saying they had lots in common. A cyber relationship formed and the messages began to get very personal and of a sexual nature.”

The court heard that the victim finally realised he had been duped when the bully accidentally sent him a message from his own e-mail address.

In response the teenager attempted to commit suicide by swallowing 30 paracetamol, 15 Buscopan and 15 ibuprofen tablets.

Sitting next to his mother and struggling to hold back tears, the bully told the court: “I know what I did was really bad but I didn’t want anything like this to happen. I am just really sorry.”

Sue Berry, the chairman of the bench, said: “This is a very serious bullying case. It may be cyber bullying, but that’s no less serious.”

Jodie Blackstock, mitigating, said: “He bitterly regrets the hurt that was caused. He never contemplated that it would get to this stage.”

Sentencing was adjourned until February 18.

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