Autistic model lobbies for support for hate crime victims

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A model who was attacked by nine bullies when she was 15 says more needs to be done about disability hate crime.

Sophie Bole, who is now 21 and a mum, has told the BBC more needs to be done to support people.

The mum from Louth believes she was targeted because she had Aspergers.

She was attacked in Louth in February 2011 on her way to her boyfriend's house and the attack left her in and out of hospital for weeks after.

The 21-year-old, who lived in Market Rasen at the time, was left with a completely shattered nose, a large scar on her top lip and internal bruising and bleeding.

Sophie, who was known at the time as Sophie Russell, was out of school for almost a year and had to have facial reconstruction.

She told the BBC: "With having Aspergers, you tend to be quite intelligent. They did things i wasn't happy with and wouldn't participate in.

"It starts off with school. They need to realise if someone has a hidden disability, they need extra support - because I didn't.

"Schools really need to pick up on social interactions and see the signs that they're going to be in trouble.

"People need to know what it's all about and help those people. I stopped three cars [the night she was attacked] and they didn't help."

Sophie explained that she was bullied from the age of five for being "too intelligent" and getting her "work done quietly".

She says she was constantly bullied and struggled to make friends.

She told the BBC that she suffered "headbutts, kicks, punches to the face, uppercuts" and could feel her nose "smashing" as she was headbutted.

She also said they tried to drown her in a river nearby.

Her nine attackers were given a police caution for common assault, but no further charges were pressed.

The 21-year-old says she feels let down and angry that it is "going to happen to so many other people".

But the mum has now turned her life around and become a model.