Among other inappropriate actions, they are said to have tied the child up in the headmaster's office.

Sources from the Príncipe Felipe primary in Pontevedra (Galicia) school say the former headmaster is still working there, as a teacher, following a period of sick-leave, but the boy in question is not in any of his classes.

They also pointed out that the child comes from a seriously dysfunctional family and displays serious behavioural problems, which have included his constantly running away from school.

The child used to be a boarder in the child protection centre which forms part of the school, but now attends as a day pupil.

And the sources in question have accused the Galicia regional government, La Xunta Galega, of 'hypocrisy' for 'only dealing with the matter after it was reported', having 'ignored' previous reports which called for the child to be sent to a therapeutic centre to correct his behaviour.

It was the teachers at the school who reported the alleged torture, and an educational inspector from the Xunta has quizzed the staff and placed the matter in the hands of the court.

President of the provincial council for Pontevedra, Rafael Louzán, has praised the 'impeccable' actions of the school for reporting the 'humiliations suffered by the child'.