AUSTIN BULLY SAYS SORRY; EXCLUSIVE.

Byline: by DAMIEN FLETCHER

HUNKY X Factor singer Austin Drage got an apology yesterday - from the bully who dumped him head first into a bin.

Remorseful Ricky Court contacted the Mirror after we revealed how Austin was picked on as a geeky schoolboy in glasses.

Now Austin, 21, is one of 12 finalists in the ITV1 talent show - and will sing live for 10 million fans this Saturday.

Brickie Ricky, 24, was one of a group of older boys who stuffed Austin into the bin at Highams Park School, East London, when he was 14.

He told the Mirror: "When I saw Austin on the telly I felt so incredibly guilty because I remembered what we did to him when we were at school.

"He was this short skinny kid with big glasses and he kept on bursting into song at every opportunity which drove us mental.

"One day he came up to me and started singing a Grease song. I told him to shut up but he wouldn't so I lost my rag. Me and a couple of others picked him up and tipped him head first into the bin.

"I apologise to Austin and hope there's no hard feelings. He's the number one star of the school now."

Austin did impress once - when, at the age of 13, he landed a part in the Guy Ritchie gangster film Snatch opposite Brad Pitt.

He even posed with the Hollywood star.

Former classmate Sian Dare, 22, said: "We were all amazed when Austin brought in these pictures of him with Brad."

CAPTION(S):

SPELLING IT OUT Ricky apologises to Austin in bricks; BUDDING STAR Austin with Brad