A TEENAGER says she is devastated after being banned from her school prom.

Ocean Murray’s mother said she was furious that Cardinal Newman School in Hove had excluded her after previously promising she would be allowed to attend the celebration.

The prom ban also means Ocean, 16, of St Cuthmans Close, Whitehawk, Brighton, will be separated from her twin sister Unity who is still allowed to go to the party on July 5.

Ocean said: “I was so looking forward to it.

“Everyone was talking about the prom and what they were going to wear and I obviously really wanted to go.

“When you’re a 16-year-old girl it’s the most important event of the year.

“I’d already got my dress – a shoulderless mermaid style one.

“They said that if I stayed away from the end-of-the-year barbecue then I could go to the prom and now suddenly they’ve changed their minds.”

Ocean’s mother Karen Easdown, 51, said: “Ocean was being bullied and she kept getting excluded.

“They excluded her over a nose ring, then over her socks.

“Then they said her eyelashes were too long – but who doesn’t wear false eyelashes?

“First of all they told her she would be allowed to go to prom as long as she didn’t go to the end-of-year barbecue.

“But now they’ve suddenly changed their mind and told me she can’t go.

“Then they emailed me on Friday saying she’s not allowed to go to the prom.

“I’ve already spent £155 on her dress.

“Her twin sister is going and they have always done everything together – but not this.

“They’ve told us if she does turn up she will be arrested.”

The prom is being held at Pangdean Old Barn, a party venue near Pyecombe.

In an email to Ocean’s mother, seen by The Argus, the school said: “I wrote to you earlier in the year to clarify our expectations for Year 11 prom.

“This is by invitation only and the governors and school uphold the right to exclude any student who does not comply with our criteria.

“Unfortunately we have not seen an improvement in Ocean’s behaviour, therefore and with regret, we have decided to exclude Ocean from the prom.

Action “We would appreciate your co-operation in ensuring Ocean does not attempt to enter the premises or the security company will be informed and appropriate action taken.”

A spokeswoman for Cardinal Newman School said: “We cannot comment on specific details of a student but the school takes exclusion of any student extremely seriously.”