MP steps in to help bullied boy who’s too scared to leave home

The family of the 15-year-old from Peterlee, who is too nervous to be named, claim the bullying began when the boy started Dene Community School in the town in Year 8.

It quickly spilled over into outside school as well, with the teen now terrified to go outside his home for fear of running into his tormentors.

His devastated mum said recently her son became so distressed that he held a knife to his throat – saying it would be better for his parents if he wasn’t here – and she also hears him sobbing.

He is also under the care of CAMHS, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

The family claim the bullying at school has included being punched to the floor, being tripped over and being put in a headlock and pushed into the wall, as well as daily taunting and name calling.

Outside of school the teen says he has been chased by gangs of up to 20 people, had abuse shouted at him and a lot of cyber bullying, including text messages from someone saying they are going to kill him and another hoping his parents get cancer.

The family, who have already been fined for not sending him to school, say although the school has taken some measures to tackle the situation, it just keeps getting worse.

His tearful mum said: “I am at my wits end, I don’t know where to turn. We have tried all the other schools in the area, but they won’t take him because of his age.

“I have thought about home-schooling, but I wouldn’t know where to start teaching all the GCSE subjects, everything has changed since I was at school.

“He wants to learn and get good grades and it makes me so angry the bullies are getting an education and my son isn’t because he’s frightened of going to school.”

Easington MP Grahame Morris has written to the school and Durham County Council in a bid to help get the situation resolved.

He said: “I will do whatever I can to support this family.”

Kelvin Simpson, headteacher at Dene Community School, said: “We work hard to ensure that every child feels safe and supported in school and have teaching and non-teaching staff who are dedicated to student welfare.

“When an issue does occur, we actively engage with families and employ a range of strategies, including the use of a wide variety of community support agencies, to seek a solution.

“The welfare of our students is always paramount and we do all that we can to support them.”

Sheila Palmerley, school places and admissions manager for Durham County Council, said: “We would not comment on individual circumstances.

“However, as a council, we work closely with schools and families to ensure pupils are happy and settled in the school environment so they can make the most of their education.”