Boy, 8, needed surgery after groin-kicking '˜game'

Charlie Taylor, a student at Brierley Forest Primary School, has been a victim of bullying for some time, his mother claims.

But Charlie was kicked so hard during an incident in February that he suffered chronic pain for months, eventually needing surgery on his genitals.

Now his mum Lorna Taylor, 29, is calling for more action to combat bullying in schools as so many children stay silent when taunted in the schoolyard.

The full-time mum-of-two who lives in Sutton, said: “There have been issues with him being picked on for a while, and then one day he came home and had been kicked so hard in the privates he was a huge amount of pain.

“Doctors said in February the swelling would go down, but when they referred him to King’s Mill they said he needed surgery.”

Charlie had a medical circumcision on September 12, and is said to still be in pain but recovering after months of difficulties.

However, there is a question over whether bullying led to the incident, or if Charlie was involved in a playground game which backfired.

The game, described as a new ‘craze’ among younger children, is to kick each other repeatedly in the groin.

But Lorna maintains problems had been ongoing before the incident and that the injury has left its mark on Charlie.

Lorna added: “I’m heartbroken.

“I was bullied as well when I was growing up and there’s been numerous times that Charlie has been.

“When you’ve got an eight years old boy saying I don’t want to go to school.

“I just want to sleep and never wake up, It’s terrible for a young boy to feel things like that.”

“No eight-year-old boy should have to go through this.

“My son will be back at school soon.

“I was angry with how the school has handled this but we’ve had several meetings now and they assure me Charlie will be happy and safe when he returns to class.”

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire County Council said talks between the school and the family were ongoing.

However, the incident is not being treated as bullying, but as part of a game, the spokesman said.

She added: “This was a playground craze and a number of lads were doing the same thing.”

Bullying issues persist as most ‘feel intervention doesn’t help’

Children’s charity Family Lives said bullying continues to be a serious issue as teachers ‘feel it’s difficult to keep on top of’ in schools. Research conducted by the charity found shortfalls in how schools handle bullying. 75 per cent of young people surveyed said their school’s response was unhelpful and 62 per cent reported that the bullying continued after it was reported to the school.

Family Lives leader Jeremy Todd said: “Young people may live their lives vicariously through the virtual world, but our survey highlights that ‘real-world’ bullying continues to occur during lunch and break times, to and from school and in corridors.

“It’s vital that parents and teachers regularly engage with one another to ensure children in their care can learn in a safe and supportive environment.”

Contact Family Lives on 0808 800 2222 or visit bullying.co.uk.