A FATHER who withdrew his son from a top private school after complaining that he had been repeatedly bullied is being sued for unpaid school fees.

Joseph Olivelle of Alderton Hill, Loughton, said that his 12-year-old son Aaron was bullied for three years at Chigwell School, in High Road, Chigwell, before he was pulled out by his family.

Despite a series of meetings with staff, Mr Olivelle became determined to act after deciding that the school was not doing enough to look after his son.

“I thought, ‘this is ridiculous’,” said Mr Olivelle.

“I wrote a letter saying I would take him out with immediate effect because I couldn’t trust them to protect him.”

The final straw came after Aaron was hit on the arm with a cricket bat during a sports lesson.

Aaron, who is now at Forest School in Snaresbrook, said: “I was the wicket keeper in the net and one of the bullies was batting.

“He kept missing the ball on purpose and on the last throw he hit it and whacked my arm too, then his friends all started laughing and cheering.

“I had to go to the nurse’s office but apparently the teacher didn’t see anything.”

Mr Olivelle said his son also suffered eye injuries and that the damage was psychological as well as physical, with Aaron making excuses not to go in, and breaking down in tears before school.

Now the school, where the fees reach £4,000 a term, is taking the family to court over unpaid fees.

Mr Olivelle said: “I am determined not to pay these fees because the school put me in a position where I was worried about my child’s safety.”

Head-teacher Michael Punt said: “Whenever there are allegations of bullying we investigate fully. I can’t comment on a particular case but we have clear anti-bullying guidelines which we always follow.

“Our levels of bullying are markedly low compared to other schools and there’s a high level of pastoral care.”