THE mother of a young woman suing her former school, after claiming her life had been ruined by bullies, collapsed in court yesterday.

Jacqueline Newby, whose daughter Caroline is one of two former pupils of Shotton Hall Secondary School, in Peterlee, suing for damages, appeared to lose consciousness while her husband, Clive, was giving evidence at Teesside County Court.

The court is hearing the cases of 20-year-olds Caroline Newby and Jamie Bright, who both claim they needed hospital treatment because of the ordeal they suffered at the hands of fellow pupils in the early 1990s.

While Mrs Newby received medical treatment in the courtroom, the case was briefly adjourned. It later continued.

Mr Newby told the court he thought the school had handled his daughter's problem "very poorly from day one", saying: "The bullying went on for two years from 1994 to 1996. To take that long to sort something out was not up to standard."

He said the problem had been reported to the school in 1994.

Barrister Ruth Trippier, for the governors of the school and Durham County Council, put it to Mr Newby that the school was not informed until a year later, and when it was, a number of measures were immediately put in place to ease the situation.

The court previously heard that Miss Newby and Mr Bright had brought separate actions against the governors of the school and Durham County Council, the education authority.

Barrister Philip Cramer, acting on their behalf, said it was their case that although the school did have processes in place to deal with bullying, these were not followed - despite both pupils making complaints to staff.

It is understood Miss Newby is claiming £50,000 for psychological injury and Mr Bright a similar sum for psychological and physical injuries. She had told the court that for two years she was tormented by a group of eight girls. They had made her life a misery by shouting and swearing at her, had repeatedly tripped her up and also spat at her.

Mr Cramer said it was Miss Newby's case that the school did not act quickly enough although she, her parents and her GP had informed the school she was being bullied.

Mr Bright, said Mr Cramer, was subjected to physical violence at the hands of boys at the school from the age of 12, with the worst attack leaving him unconscious. Mr Bright is expected to give evidence later today.

The claims are challenged by the governors of the school and the county council.

The case continues