A WOMAN who said that she was bullied at primary school more than ten years ago has won an out-of-court settlement of £20,000 from her education authority, Torfaen County Borough Council in Wales.

Sophie Amor, 23, said that she had suffered depression and even attempted suicide because the school failed to take any action, despite repeated complaints by her mother.

Three years ago she began a claim for compensation which was settled this week by the local authority’s insurers.

Lawyers representing the Amor family believe that it is the first time that anyone in Britain has won a payout for school bullying.

Miss Amor said yesterday that the bullying, which lasted for seven years, ruined her life. She was a pupil at St Peter’s Church in Wales School in Blaenavon, Gwent, from the age of 4 to 11.

She said that at first she was teased about her size but gradually the taunts turned into physical abuse, including spitting, hitting, taunting and teasing. She once needed six stitches around an eye after being pushed to the ground. “I used to dread going in every day,” Miss Amor said.

“I wanted to fade into the background but it felt as though everyone was staring at me, jeering and laughing, pointing at me. I couldn’t walk down the school corridor without a snide comment being made or being given a push to get me out of the way. An average day would be suffering panic attacks and palpitations. I think I just shut off in the end.”

At the age of 9 she said that she attempted suicide by taking an overdose of pills that had been prescribed to treat her epilepsy. She said that she was still traumatised 12 years after leaving the school. At 14 depression was diagnosed and she was taken out of mainstream education. “I wouldn’t call what I have a life, I just exist,” she said.

“I don’t leave the house in case I see the bullies from school. I have no confidence left — I can’t see myself working because I’m scared of being bullied again.”

Miss Amor’s mother, Isabel, 55, said that she had tried repeatedly to make the school take the situation seriously. “I must have told the head 50 to 100 times and I took the matter to the governors,” she said. “I regret not going higher but I felt intimidated by the situation.”

Mrs Amor believes that the bullying started because her daughter was significantly taller than her classmates. “Sophie was always a tall girl — at least three inches taller than her classmates. She used to cower and stoop, desperately trying to blend in with the others.”

The case was due to be heard by the High Court but the education authority agreed the £20,000 out-of-court setttlement before the hearing.

A council spokesman said: “We have not accepted liability.” A spokeswoman for the National Union of Teachers said that making out-of- court payments could attract and encourage vexatious litigation.

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