A BOYFRIEND'S cliff-top prank tragically backfired when his teenage sweetheart fell 100ft to her death, an inquest heard yesterday.

Kimberley Graham, l7, fell from a beauty spot after her boyfriend drove away "as a joke".

She had climbed over the safety barrier at Souter Point, South Shields, on April 26.

Boyfriend Sayed Islam drove off, but when he returned minutes later there was no sign of her, the South Shields inquest was told.

The hearing was told he made a fruitless search for her and later returned at l0am - minutes before her body was found on the beach below.

Home Office pathologist Dr James Sunter said: "At some point, the girl allegedly climbed over the safety barrier adjacent to the cliff edge. Before she reappeared, the boyfriend drove off, leaving her, as a bit of a joke.

"He said he returned after a short while but she was nowhere to be seen."

Mr Sunter said Kimberley, a student from South Shields, died from severe multiple injuries and had been "moderately drunk". There were also traces of amphetamines and cannabis in her blood, he said.

Sayed Islam was questioned by police afterwards but no charges were brought.

Three friends saw Kimberley and Sayed before the 17-year-old's fall. Ryan Lincoln, 19, Aaron Cliff, 18, and Adari Abdullah, 16, were in another car at the beauty spot at 4am.

Adari told the inquest: "I heard the girl shout 'don't you drive away from me or we are over' and he drove off."

She said Sayed returned ten minutes later and Kimberley was still sitting on the kerb.

The hearing continues.