The Wandsworth resident who helped a Tooting school boy being bullied on the bus home from school has spoken to Tooting Nub News about why they stepped in.

Leo Anna Thomas, 39, Wandsworth, was on the 270 bus home when she heard the incident involving a group of school children.

Leo told Nub News: "I was sitting on the top deck of the bus when a group of school children boarded.

"The group of around eight to ten were loud and all sitting around me."

Leo explained that the group were shouting about wanting to beat someone up, it was only a few moments later that she understood they were talking about someone at the back of the bus.

"I turned to see a young boy crying with his phone to his ear saying he was calling his mum," Leo continued.

"He then said he was going to call the police. I was putting my book away and beginning to stand as he was saying these words.

"The group all suddenly stood up and started to run to the front of the bus to leave, knowing that the police had been called."

Leo joined the young boy and sat on the seat in front of him.

"The young boy was too upset to try and speak," Leo explained.

"I put my hand out, and asked if he would like me to take the phone. I was talking to the police officer, explaining who I was and that I was helping this poor boy.

"With my phone I was able to take a few photos and a video of the boys leaving the bus and running away.

"I offered to step off the bus at the next stop and invited the boy to come with me until the police arrived, so that he would not be left alone.

"We did just that and I wanted to help make him feel safe and to calm him down as much as I could."

Luckily Leo has had training in Mental Health which helped her comfort the distraught boy and de-escalate the situation.

"I am a fully certified Mental Health First Aider, and was just retrained a few weeks ago, so all the skills and awareness I had learnt were fresh in my mind to put into action," Leo said.

The community has been praising Leo's actions on social media, with many calling her a hero for jumping into action and helping the boy in his time of need.

The boy's mother, Djamila Mahoro, previously told Nub News: "Leo has been really good to a stranger when other people sometimes are scared to approach these groups of children.

"She was amazing and staying the whole time with him until I got there. I don't know how to thank her enough."

Leo hopes that her actions will inspire other members of the community to not turn a blind eye if they witness someone in trouble.

Leo told us: "The fact that these boys were not much older than ten or eleven is so disturbing to me.

"If we, as humans, are in no immediate danger, we can really help make a change and protect fellow humans who are being harmed in our company.

"Please speak up, please help that person, whoever they are, whatever they look like."

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