A British factory worker has gone on trial in Britain for encouraging a 14-year-old Dutch girl to commit suicide in 2018, the Daily Mail has reported.

Christopher Ballard, 42, sent dozens of emails and WhatsApp messages to the girl  after she posted her intention to take her own life on the ForumJar site, the Bradford court was told.

The girl, who lived in Amsterdam, posted her first message on the website in February 2018, saying she was looking for someone to commit suicide with her.

Ballard told the girl he worked in a hospital and had access to drugs, and continued to email the girl until March 3. She was found dead by her mother on March 28, leaving a farewell letter on her mobile phone.  

Prosecutor James Bourne-Arton told the court the case against Ballard focused on the messages that he sent, which were capable of encouraging the girl to die by suicide and that was what the sender had intended.

Her phone also included flight schedules between Leeds Bradford Airport and Schiphol and a photograph of Ballard.

Ballard, who denies the charges, was arrested in 2020 in a joint investigation by the Dutch and British police. The case continues.

Anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts can chat with someone anonymously online at www.113.nl or call the free number 0800-0113.