Responsible Child is inspired by a true story: where is Jerome Ellis – the person behind ‘Ray’ – now?
Netflix viewers have been gripped by Responsible Child, a BBC drama dating back to 2019 which has just been uploaded to the platform. It explores the nuanced issue of what age children ought to be responsible for their actions in a legal context.
The series tells the story of Ray, a seemingly sweet 12-year-old boy with a tough home life, who stands trial for murder alongside his older brother, Nathan; both appear in an adult court after being accused of killing their step-father as he slept – and it’s not a total work of fiction. In fact, it’s believed to be inspired by the case of Jerome and Joshua Ellis, two brothers who stabbed their step-father in 2013.
Here’s what we know about the true story that inspired Responsible Child and where Jerome Ellis, the man who inspired Billy Barrett’s character, Ray, is now.
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BBC
Is ‘Responsible Child’ based on a true story?
It’s believed that the notable 2013 case of Jerome Ellis, a 14-year-old who killed his step-father alongside his brother, is the inspiration for Responsible Child.
While researching for a documentary, the series’ creator Nick Holt previously told the Radio Times, he witnessed the trial of a young boy accused of murder firsthand. “I saw a very, very young child coming into the court, and I asked the lawyer who I was with whether this child would be giving evidence. He said, ‘No, no, he’s the accused’.
“That came as quite a shock, and that led me to ask questions about, what age do we put children on trial?”
How much of Responsible Child is based on Jerome Ellis?
The BBC film is loosely based on the case of Jerome Ellis, who was 14 years old, and his 23-year-old brother Joshua. The two brothers stabbed their stepfather, Neil Tulley, to death in a savage knife attack as he lay on the sofa at their family home (Tulley was later found with 65 stab wounds).
However, the TV dramatisation does make some changes for storytelling and privacy reasons. Character names and ages were altered: in the film, the 12-year-old boy is named Ray, while his older brother is called Nathan. In reality, Jerome Ellis was 14 at the time of the killing, and his brother Joshua was 23.
The abusive stepfather character is renamed ‘Scott’ in the drama, but closely parallels reports about the real Neil Tulley. Despite these changes, the core scenario remains true to life – an underage boy, alongside his adult brother, commits a shocking act of violence after years of alleged abuse, and England’s justice system holds a child accountable in an adult court.
The real-world Ellis brothers’ case sparked debate about whether a child so young should face the full force of adult law. This debate is exactly what Responsible Child shines a light on, by putting viewers in the jury box of a 12-year-old’s trial.
Surrey Police
The real Neil Tulley (Surrey Police)
Who is Jerome Ellis, the inspiration behind Ray?
Like the fictional Ray, the real Jerome Ellis lived in a troubled home, and his older brother Joshua, much like Nathan on screen, was a depressed recluse.
In August 2013, 14-year-old Jerome was living in Guildford (Surrey, England) with his mother and his older brother Joshua. The household was, by all accounts, deeply troubled.
Their mother’s partner, 54-year-old Neil Tulley, was described as an abusive alcoholic who routinely assaulted the family. Neighbours and relatives would later attest that the boys lived in fear of Tulley’s violent outbursts.
Both the real and fictional brothers described living in fear – in fact, Jerome and Joshua told the court their stepfather had threatened to kill them before they finally fought back.
In Responsible Child, the trial’s outcome aligns with the true case. In 2014, a year after his step-father’s death, Jerome Ellis was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of ‘loss of control’ – essentially, the court recognised that his actions were provoked by the abuse he suffered.
He was sentenced to six years in detention for the killing, as per a BBC report.
Meanwhile, Joshua Ellis was convicted of murder and given a life sentence with a minimum of 14 years to serve.
Where is Jerome Ellis now?
Jerome Ellis has served his sentence and has since been released from custody. Today, Jerome is in his mid-twenties and is living privately, away from the public eye.
Because he was a juvenile at the time of the crime, authorities have kept details of his post-release life under wraps – reports indicate that his whereabouts and new identity are not publicly known.
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Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK’s multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She’s grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
