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And in what is perhaps the ultimate schoolboy revenge, the Queen of Pop – Beyonce has confirmed she’s firmly placed in Sykes’ corner.
Beyonce has given the teen a huge wrap saying “he was so soulful,” after he performed for her as part of his X Factor journey. “He's adorable, I love his face, his hair and his posture - so interesting, he's great,” she said.

The teenager has Beyonce as a fan, and the ultimate bragging rights that go with it. For someone who has been bullied most of his life, this is fantastic news.

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At the age of five Declan was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome - a form of autism.

“I do actually think that Declan was being bullied because of Asperger’s, but only in the sense of the symptoms that you see - the slight clumsiness, the lack of social connection, and children just pick up on it,” Katherine said.

Another difficulty Katherine has faced is coping with her son’s lack of affection.

“Their desire not to be touched when they don't want to be touched is enormous. I actually think that was one of the hardest things I have had to experience, as he would push me away,” she said. “It wasn’t until he was eleven that I actually experienced having Declan reaching out for me when he was in pain - that's something that mums take for granted.”

As the years have gone on the symptoms have decreased and Sykes is coming into his own.

“I don't consider myself an autistic boy anymore. I am now just Declan, who is a little bit weird,” he said. “The thing that probably made it all change was just me getting a bit older, and also understanding what it was that made me different, and made others different to me. Just understanding who I am.”