A teenager who claims her life was wrecked by bullying at a Sussex school ten years ago never complained to her head teacher, London's High Court heard.

Paul Harvey, head of Ifield Middle School in Crawley, disputed Leah Bradford-Smart's claims that she was subjected to persistent and prolonged bullying at the school between 1990 and 1993.

He agreed that Leah's mother, Susan, had told him about problems involving neighbours' children, but insisted neither she nor Leah had ever complained of harassment at school.

Any complaints about bullying incidents would have been noted and "dealt with", he told the court.

Mr Harvey was testifying on the second day of Ms Bradford-Smart's £75,000 damages claim against West Sussex County Council, the local education authority, which denies breaching its duty of care.

Ms Bradford-Smart, 19, of Ifield, Crawley, who claims bullying at the school left her psychologically scarred, told the court she was taunted and chased by fellow pupils.

The hearing continues.