Leeds man charged with encouraging suicide in US

A 21-year-old man from West Yorkshire has been charged with an offence linked to the suicide of a man in the US.

Dylan Phelan, from Churwell in Leeds, has been charged with intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging the suicide of another during a video call.

West Yorkshire Police said the investigation related to the death of an American man in Louisiana on 30 October 2024.

Phelan had also been charged with making an indecent image of a child and possession of extreme pornography in an unrelated case.

He is due to appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court on 11 February.

Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime Division, said: "Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

"We have worked closely with West Yorkshire Police as they carried out their investigation into the circumstances of this death. Our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this time.

"We remind all concerned that proceedings against this defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

"It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."

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