Arrest : Joe Lawton was found dead at home two days after being accused of drink-driving by police . A ‘ perfect son ’ killed himself two days after being arrested for drink-driving because he believed he had ‘ ruined his future ’ . Joseph Lawton , described as an ‘ exemplary student ’ , was found in his family ’ s farmhouse alongside a shotgun and a police charge sheet . Joseph , 17 , was caught drink-driving on his way home from a party just four weeks after passing his driving test . He was kept in the cells overnight at Cheadle Heath police station in Greater Manchester without his parents ’ knowledge . Two days later he used his father ’ s shotgun to kill himself at the £850,000 family farm in Disley , Stockport . The charge sheet and a letter were at his feet when his father found him . Following his death , his parents Nick and Jane Lawton successfully lobbied the Government to change the law so that 17-year-olds are treated as children in custody . An inquest into Joseph ’ s death heard the model pupil – who had recently gained one A and four Bs in his AS-Levels – was working on his university application and travel plans and had shown no signs of depression or anxiety . But the note found next to his body said he feared being a ‘ constant disappointment ’ and felt his arrest had ‘ ruined his future ’ . The jury at Macclesfield Coroner ’ s Court heard that Joseph was kept in a police cell overnight after being arrested in August 2012 . The youngster was driving his new Peugeot 107 home from a party with his friends when he was stopped by police and breathalysed . He was over the legal limit and was taken to a police station , where he was detained for more than seven hours overnight . His parents were unaware he had been arrested . Mr Lawton , 53 , who runs a building supplies company with his wife , said : ‘ He was 17 and had been treated as an adult and I said straight away that was wrong . There was an anomaly in the system. ’ CCTV showing Joseph arriving at the police station and undergoing further searches and tests was shown to the jury . As the footage was played , Mrs Lawton , 49 , left the courtroom . Mr Lawton said of Joseph ’ s letter : ‘ What he means by that is he can see himself being a disappointment in the future . He had never been a disappointment – he was a very high achiever , he did everything that was asked of him . Father : Nick Lawton told an inquest that Joe was a 'perfect son ' who had never disappointed the family . ‘ He was a perfect son and loved by everyone . He thought he ’ d ruined his future and he wouldn ’ t be able to reach the standards he wanted to reach. ’ Joseph ’ s family did not know of his drink-driving arrest until after his death because he was treated as an adult in custody without the need for a parent or guardian . His parents have successfully campaigned for a change in the law to see anyone aged 17 or under treated as a child in custody . The previous age limit was 16 . In a statement , the Lawtons said Joseph had made a ‘ bad decision ’ to drive after the party . They added : ‘ We were not called when he was arrested or given the opportunity to give him the support he needed . Campaign : Joe 's parents Nick and Jane outside the High Court after winning a change in the law . ‘ The fact that a 17-year-old is treated as an adult while in custody is an anomaly of British law . Once they are charged , they are then treated as children . This simply does not make sense . For someone of any age , being held and charged in a police station is a traumatic experience . ‘ Few 17-year-olds could make a rational judgement about contacting family or legal advice in that situation without support . Perhaps most importantly of all , they are fearful of disappointing and letting down their families . We believe if the law had been different , Joe would still be alive. ’ The inquest continues . For confidential support , call the Samaritans on 08457 909090 , visit a local Samaritans branch or go to www.samaritans.org .
inquest teenager Lawton was found dead with shotgun and the charge sheet next to him . He left a note saying he feared being a 'constant disappointment ' after arrest for drink-driving two days earlier . Father tells Joe was ' a very high achiever ' and 'perfect son ' inquest teenager 's parents were not informed of his arrest by police at the time .