BOY BULLIED ‘BECAUSE OF HIS AUTISM’
AGLOUCESTERSHIRE boy was assaulted as he walked home from school because of his autism and the blue-tinted glasses he needs to wear, his mum says.
Stonehouse town councillor Leigh Binns said bullies have targeted her 11-year-old son Bradlei on a daily basis since he started going to Maidenhill School in September.
He was walking home from the King’s Road school at around 3.10pm when a boy punched and kicked him in the ribs.
Mrs Binns, a First Stonehouse Scout Group leader, said police have told her they are investigating the offence as a hate crime because Bradlei was targeted due to his Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism.
The incident started with the boy following Bradlei, then pulling at his bag, Mrs Binns said.
The 40-year-old added: “Brad told him to stop and the next thing he knew, this boy had him on the floor.”
The boy dealt several blows to Bra- dlei in Oldends, while people drove past without intervening until a van driver stopped.
The driver yelled at the bully, who ran away, and offered Bradlei a ride home.
He did not accept the offer because he had been warned of stranger danger, but Mrs Binns says she would like to thank the driver for his kindness.
She added: “It’s a bit upsetting that other people drove past without helping. I understand it was scary but anything could have happened to Brad.”
Bradlei’s Irlen Syndrome means he has to wear blue-tinted glasses to see.
Mrs Binns, a mental health worker, said: “It makes him a target for bullies.
“He has been bullied since the first week of school. The first time was on Snapchat with children telling him how ugly he was and asking why he doesn’t kill himself.
“He’s been attacked in school corridors and he got a burst nose from being punched.
“People are constantly hitting him and telling him he is worthless. He doesn’t want to go out.”
Abusive social media messages sent to Bradlei include “you will never be anything more than ugly” and “you can put gel in your hair but you will always be ugly”.
Mr Binns said: “That’s the sort of thing that keeps kids awake at night.”
Bradlei has stopped going on social media because of the abuse.
He is regularly being called an offensive term for someone with disabilities, his mum says.
Asked if she welcomes police treating the attack as a hate crime, she said: “Of course.”
She said Bradlei is very shaken up following the assault, which has left him with aching ribs and a lump on the side of his head.
Maidenhill told Mrs Binns it will be investigating the incident today.
She said the school has been “brilliant and very supportive” in dealing with the bullying incidents.
Mrs Binns described her son, who wishes to work in the media one day, as “amazing”. He enjoys Scout activities and helping the community by picking up litter.
A Gloucestershire police spokesman confirmed the incident was reported to the force.