Teen Romany gypsy opens up about leaving school at 11 after being beaten up because of his background

AN EXASPERATED dad has spoken candidly about why his Romany gypsy son was forced to leave school.

At just 11 years old, David decided to put his education to one side after being badly bullied by his classmates.

Channel 5's Gypsy Kids: Our Secret World delves into what daily life is like for gypsy children.

This week's show focused on David, a 15-year-old who was forced out of school four years ago after getting beaten up by other students.

A shocking photo highlighted the affects of the attack, which left the secondary school's face bloodied and bruised.

Now 15, David works buying and selling goods for a profit.

Even though he was forced out of education, he insisted: "I didn't like school anyway. I'd rather work."

But his dad isn't happy that his son was pushed to quit school.

He said: "It would've been better to start life with a better education than you've got, or you're going to end up like me.

"I'm a 50-year-old and I can just about spell my own name - you can't do that in this day and age.

"The only reason you stopped going was because what happened to you at school."

David doesn't find it as easy to open up about his ordeal.

After turning away from the cameras, he said: "I don't like to be talking about it."

David's dad hopes that speaking about the bullying will help to alter prejudice.

He said: "They don't understand how much of an effect they've had on him.

"It's terrible, it's heartbreaking, he didn't ask to be born a gypsy."

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