X Factor hopeful, Scott James has told how horrendous bullying by his classmates, left him unable to socialise with others for seven years.

Scott, who wowed the judges with his version of ‘You Raise Me Up’ on last night’s show, suffers from Aspergers Syndrome. His condition led to him being tormented during his whole school life.

Scott told The Sun: “They called me retarded and laughed at the way I walked and the way I looked. I was overweight, wore glasses and walked with an unusual gait. My school reports said it was like I didn’t exist. No one would sit next to me. I’d find a corner and stay in it.

“They would throw things at the back of my head when the teacher wasn’t looking – books, pencil cases, anything they could get their hands on. And they’d hit me with things and kick me.

“They’d put bits of paper in their mouth and spit them out through pens so it was all over my clothes and hair.

“A couple of them even decided to treat me to an unwanted dip in a pond behind the school. The teachers didn’t know much about it and when they did it was impossible for them to do anything.”

But Scott has since discovered a love for singing and was encouraged by his mum and his vocal coach to audition for X Factor this year.

He said “I thought I could cope – it wouldn’t have been fair at all for someone to decide on my behalf that I couldn’t take part because of my Asperger’s.

“Simon Cowell and the producers have given me such support.”

“Simon said to me ‘This is going to be difficult, can you handle it?’ And I said ‘I’ll certainly try. Thank you.’”