VIDEO: Mum of 14-year-old boy with 10-a-day smoking habit slams Kearsley Academy for confiscating his e-cigarette

Mason Dunn had the e-cigarette taken off him at Kearsley Academy after he was found to be ‘vaping’ on school premises.

The principal says the school is a non-smoking site and has a ‘duty of care’ to discourage children from smoking.

Mason’s mother, Sue, said her son was using the device in an attempt to kick the habit.

She said that, unknown to her, her son started smoking at the age of 12, caused in part by the death of his father.

She found out a year later and said the family decided to purchase an e-cigarette for him, to help him cut down and eventually quit.

Miss Dunn, of Market Street, Stoneclough, said she explained the situation to teachers and stressed that her son would not use the e-cigarette in open view or in front of younger children.

He has since had the e-cigarette returned to him.

The school said it had a duty of care to discourage children from smoking, and that staff have met with Mason and his mother to support them. He has also been referred to the school nurse on several occasions.

It will become illegal for retailers to sell electronic cigarettes and e-liquids to people under the age of 18 from October 1.

Miss Dunn said: "I am not happy about the fact that he smokes in the first place, but we have tried everything to help him stop.

"We have tried patches and have been to the doctor, but nothing worked, so my eldest son bought him an e-cigarette and it has helped him stop smoking cigarettes. He has really made an effort.

"I went into school and explained the situation but was told it is against the school policy.

"He came home from school in a terrible state, because he needed nicotine. We have tried to wean him off the e-cigarettes as well, but it is helping.

"If it helps to prevent people from developing cancer at a later stage, I think it should be allowed."

After starting using e-cigs at the start of the summer holidays Mason had not had one cigarette.

But now since going back to school he is back on normal cigarettes again.

Mason said: “It feels like the school don’t want me to stop smoking.

“It is really irritating because they shout at me when I have got a cigarette and tell me to stop and then when I try to quit, they tell me to stop doing that as well.

“It is really hard and I don’t know what to do next.”

Battery powered e-cigarettes are an alternative way of consuming nicotine, without inhaling harmful chemicals such as tar and carbon monoxide.

The e-cigarette converts liquid nicotine into a mist which the smoker inhales.

A recent report carried out on behalf of Public Health England concluded that they are 95 per cent less harmful than tobacco, and that they could be prescribed on the NHS in future to help smokers quit.

However, concerns have been raised about the possible inconsistencies of quality in e-cigarettes, and whether they are completely safe.

Suzanne Pountain, principal of the school, said: "Kearsley Academy is a no-smoking site. We have a duty of care to our students to reinforce this and discourage them from doing so.

"As a healthy school we encourage students to lead healthy lifestyles and to make healthy choices.

"We offer students access to the school nurse and if necessary pathways such as the smoke cessation programme, if this is needed.

"We will continue to work with and support Mason within the guidelines of our policy.

"For the safeguarding of all our students, smoking, including the use of any nicotine inhalation devices are not allowed."