David Gregory sued the state of NSW after suffering years of humiliation and bullying while attending the prestigious selective agricultural high school.

The Department of Education has admitted breaching its duty of care to Mr Gregory.

Mr Gregory told a civil hearing in the NSW Supreme Court he was abused by older students, including being struck with a broom, having his knuckles rapped with a steel ruler and being called “sterile”, “faggot”, “pedophile” and “Nazi”.

Repeated complaints to staff were ignored, he said.

He said the bullying led to behavioural problems such as obsessive compulsive disorder, symptoms of depression and agoraphobia – a fear of unfamiliar places which can lead to panic attacks.

Justice Elizabeth Fullerton yesterday handed down a 112-page judgment awarding Mr Gregory $468,736 for economic losses and future loss of earnings.

Future therapeutic costs must also be agreed upon, she said.

Justice Fullerton ruled Mr Gregory’s psychological problems were a result of the treatment he endured.

“He ... described progressively more entrenched feelings of fear, isolation, hopelessness and sadness after being forced to endure mistreatment from the other students without the intervention of teaching staff,’’ Justice Fullerton said.

“He gave graphic evidence of the various measures he took in an effort to deal with his predicament including obsessive washing with hospital grade disinfectant on a daily basis ... in an effort to rid himself of what he experienced as contamination after being at school and in contact with his oppressors.’’

Thirteen years after he graduated from Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Mr Gregory suffers from depression and agoraphobia that he claimed had crippled his earning capacity.

Mr Gregory, who once aspired to Liberal party preselection but now works at a café in Mollymook, said outside the court he was relieved his case was over.

“I just need to have some time, let this settle down and then I can start thinking and start going from there,’’ he said.

He might have been a schoolboy again yesterday with a short back and sides haircut, wearing his best suit and leaping to his feet when Justice Fullerton asked if she might address him.

“As you can well appreciate ... a great deal of thought has gone into this decision I’ve come to,’’ the judge said.

“I wish you well for the future.’’

He replied in a very small voice: “Thank you.’’