Autistic boy’s bullying hell in Inverness home
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An autistic boy is being hounded from his home by bullies throwing stones at his bedroom window, a family has claimed.
Tyler MacMillan (8) regularly stays over at his aunt or granny’s home in order to sleep, in a situation that has been going on now for two years.
Aunt Gemma McPhee (26) said the whole family is being worn down with worry over the sporadic attacks at their home in Kessock Court, Merkinch.
“For the last two years a gang of about 12 boys and two girls have made my family’s life hell,” she said.
“For some reason they think it is OK to throw stones at my nephew’s window. My nephew is eight years old and has autism.
“He is frightened of the children throwing stones at his window. When the stones are thrown it wakes him up and he then cannot sleep until 4 or 5am.”
She said that, as well as the impact on Tyler, the stress of the situation is particularly harmful for her brother-in-law, Tyler’s dad.
“Allan suffers from epilepsy and stressful situations can make it worse,” she said. “He has been in hospital with his condition and he has almost died because of it.
“He has been out on the street explaining to the young people that his son has autism and sleeps in the room they are throwing stones at, but they have not listened.
“No child should have to put up with this level of bullying. No child deserves to be bullied, and no child should be frightened in their bed at night.
“Why is it that my nephew has to stay with me or his granny so he can get some respite? He should feel safe in his own home.”
She said that while the family had spoken to the police there was little they could do without clear evidence.
While asking for understanding she also warned she had recently bought a CCTV camera which had shown some of the culprits – and she plans to hand this to the police.
