THE Sydney schoolyard bully who has been demonised by victims around the world has broken his silence and apologised to Casey Heynes.

Ritchard Gale broke down in tears last night and revealed he had also been a victim of bullying.

The Chifley College student apologised but refused to take responsibility for starting the fight, which has become a YouTube and social media sensation.

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Ritchard told Channel 7's Today Tonight Casey had provoked him before he squared up with the Year 10 student and punched him in the face.

"He was like 'go to class' and calling me an idiot and stuff. And I didn't like it. And he pushed me and stuff and ran down to the front of the office and that's when I hit him,'' Ritchard said.

"I don't know why (I punched him) because I was just really pissed off at him ... giving me mouth.''

Asked what he'd like to say to Casey, the 12-year-old said he did not realise that Casey had been a victim of bullying.

"Sorry that I picked on him and I didn't know that he'd been bullied his whole school life," he said.

Ritchard said he would go and "tell the principal" if he had future problems with older students.

"I'll probably go to the office," he said.

The interview was organised by Ritchard's family as a response to Casey's sitdown with rival A Current Affair on Sunday night.

Ritchard said he had wanted to speak out "so they know my side as well as his".

Ritchard, who suffered a bruised leg after being body-slammed into the concrete, admitted he deserved the treatment he received.

"If I'd snapped my neck I could've die and got paralysed in a wheelchair," he said.

After admitting that he had been a victim of bullying, Ritchard said his message for other bullies was to stop: "Don't bully because you end up getting hurt bad, maybe worse than me."

Asked if he would bully again, Ritchard laughed and said "most probably not".

US, UK and Asian newspapers and websites have all run Casey's interview.

In that interview, 15-year-old Casey said he had been bullied almost every day at school and had contemplated suicide a year ago.

The video of Casey body-slamming Ritchard has become a worldwide phenomenon, with millions of people viewing the original video and adaptations in the past week.

Casey, who has not yet returned to school, now has more than 230,000 followers on Facebook and Twitter accounts dedicated to him.

The Department of Education is already undergoing a review of its anti-bullying policy and has given all schools until December this year to "ensure anti-bullying plan complies with the updated policy''.

"There is no connection between the updated policy implementation date, which was flagged with principals on Monday, 14 March 2011, and the event at Chifley College, Dunheved Campus last week," a Department of Education spokesman said.

Are you a victim of bullying? Do you know somebody who might be?

There is plenty of help and support out there, including some of the organisations listed below:



Headspace

Headspace provides information, services and supports for young people aged 12 to 25 years. If you are going through a tough time or need someone to talk to visit www.headspace.org.au/headspace-centres to get in touch with your nearest headspace centre.



BeyondBlue

For more information on bullying and where to get help go to www.youthbeyondblue.com or call 1300 22 4636



Kids helpline

If you need to speak to a counsellor, call 1800 55 1800, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or visit our website www.kidshelp.com.au



Workplace bullying

Contact worksafe at worksafe.vic.gov.au/bullying or on 1800 136 089 (9am-5pm Monday to Friday)

Originally published as I'm a victim too, says tearful bully boy