The mum of a girl subjected to racial abuse has been left "speechless" and in tears after receiving the support of a national football player.

Last week Sophie Tresidder, from the Lizard Peninsula, posted on Facebook about the verbal abuse her 12-year-old daughter Lilly, who has Fijian and English parents, had received at school.

Although pleased with the action the school and police had taken over the matter, she wanted to share her story in the hope of encouraging other people to come forward if they had also experienced such slurs, saying support was out there for them.

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Her post went on to be shared 1,600 times – and reached the eyes of former Leeds United Ladies player Emma Lee.

Emma contacted Sophie and just a few days later Lilly, a keen football supporter, received a package containing items of Leeds kit and a note that read: "Lilly, always remember you are braver than you seem, smarter than you think and more beautiful than you could ever imagine. With love, Emma"

Sophie said: "She saw my post and sent a message asking for our address. I'm speechless.

"I had actual tears when she opened it. It's unbelievable."

Not only that, but Sophie said that since the post was shared she has been contacted by many parents who would now be taking further action on behalf of their children, after reading about her experience.

"I've had so many people message me. A lot of parents who are now going to contact the police following lack of action from their children's schools. The words definitely got around.

"It really has done exactly what I wanted. I said I'd be happy if it helped one family, but it's helped so many more."

 

Lilly was the victim of racial abuse

Lilly was the victim of racial abuse

 

Last week Sophie had shared how she had received the dreaded call from her daughter Lilly's school that she had been called a racial slur by another child at the school.

She said the headteacher handled it amazingly well but the slur was so awful, she couldn't bring herself to repeat it.

She said she and her husband Gary "stewed" on the situation all weekend, alternating from anger to crying and back again.

She was told that she should contact the police as racist bullying is a criminal offence and after taking time to think about it Sophie contacted Devon and Cornwall Police via the Webchat option on their website.

"The minute I said what my daughter was called, the lady on the end of the chat said that this will need to be logged and it will be acted upon – she asked for my permission to do that, and I said yes please, 100%. She told me that it is a hate crime and we will be seen within 48 hours," recalled Sophie.

The next morning she received a call from a local police officer based in Helston, who promised to pay a visit to the child involved to explain the seriousness of what was said, and to try to find out where a child learnt that sort of language from - and the day after that the school updated her to say the child was extremely apologetic and wanted to personally apologise to her daughter.

She urged any child suffering from racial abuse to speak out and tell an adult and report the matter so they can make a difference.

However, she said she doesn't want any negative comments about the child who said the comments, saying: "We, and the police officer, are sure that the child did not hear this at home. I am just trying to raise awareness of the support available."