Now, to mark Anti-Bullying Week this week, the autistic 21-year-old is urging anyone who is getting bullied to tell someone about the problem.

The South Tyneside College student said: "Speak up. After I did, it stopped."

Chris, originally from Huddersfield, Yorkshire, has Asperger syndrome and lives in Sunderland.

He moved to the area three years ago to attend a specialist autism college and is studying for his Btec in business studies.

He regularly goes home to see his family and meets his girlfriend Emily, 17, and his former bullies.

From starting secondary school at 11, Chris was called names and pushed about, until he was about 14 and decided enough was enough.

The bullying centred on his height. The now 6ft 9ins Chris towered over his classmates at more than 6ft back then.

He said: "It was mental and physical bullying. Eventually, I just stood up to them and told a teacher.

"It was quite a shock to them how they were making me feel.

"They thought they were just joking around, but afterwards we became friends."

South Tyneside College recently held Yellow Wednesday to mark Anti-Bullying Week.

Students and staff donned brightly-coloured clothes to unite against bullying.