A MUM has hit out after she was sent a video of her disabled son being bullied at school.

Joy Turnbull, from Ormsgill in Barrow, said she felt ‘helpless’ when she was sent a Snapchat video of her 14-year-old son, Reece Davies, being ‘tormented’ by his peers at Furness Academy.

Simon Laheney, the head of the academy, said all those involved were ' proportionately sanctioned' and he was upset two weeks after the event students involved have had to experience ‘trial by Facebook’.

The Mail:

Mrs Turnbull, a mum-of-four said: “I was sent a video of pupils trapping Reece’s leg underneath the arm of his chair so he was moving uncontrollably into the fence.

“They were all laughing at him and saying cruel things - it was awful to watch.”

The incident on October 22 was dealt with via restorative justice led by PC Paul Kelly.

Mr Laheney said: "The video clip was brought to my attention less than one hour after it had been originally made.

"The contents were reviewed immediately and an investigation started.

"All those involved, including witnesses, were interviewed that afternoon and once the facts had been established each student involved was proportionately sanctioned.

"Their families were contacted and brought into school and the matter discussed.

"None of the families condoned the actions of their children and agreed with the steps the school had taken.

"Mrs Turnbull was kept fully informed. Furthermore the families agreed for their children to undertake a process of restorative justice to understand the consequences of their actions.

"It is upsetting that over two weeks later on November 5 the students involved have now experienced ‘trial by Facebook’ and as a result there are many more victims to this sorry affair.

"The school has worked with the police and Mrs Turnbull throughout this incident and dealt with this matter fairly and in a way that attempted to protect the dignity of all of those involved."

The Mail:

Mrs Turnbull said her son, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, was ‘very upset’ after the incident.

“He doesn’t want to move schools but it has been traumatic for him,” she said.

“He’s been upset and keeps saying he doesn’t have any real friends. Only one of the boy’s parents in the video has been in touch. I want them to realise what they’ve done. He’s not to be taken advantage of just because he’s in a chair.”

Mrs Turnbull said she was unhappy with the way the incident was dealt with.

“I don’t feel like he’s being safeguarded at the school, she said. "There hasn’t been any real punishment for what these pupils did.

"This behaviour shouldn’t be tolerated, not just because he’s a disabled child, but because it is bullying full stop. And it’s made even worse by the fact he couldn’t defend himself.”

The Mail:

A spokeswoman for Cumbria Police said: “Officers from the child centred policing team worked with the school and a community resolution was agreed by all parties.

“All those involved including parents were spoken to about the incident and intervention and prevention advice was used as an agreed correct resolution to the incident to prevent any criminalisation of young people for inappropriate behaviour.”