Lisa Johnson took anti-depressants after being accused of ‘scamming’ and using bullying tactics (Picture: Champion News Service)

An anti-bullying campaigner left ‘physically sick’ after being called a bully herself has won a £60,000 libel battle.

Lisa Johnson, 45, became an ambassador for the BulliesOut charity and spoke on TV about her work after suffering ‘years’ of torment from childhood.

But she told a judge she had to take anti-depressants when business rival Emma Hammond accused her on Facebook of ‘scamming’ and using ‘unscrupulous bullying sales tactics’.

The pair fell out when Hammond, 37, refused to pay for a course she had signed up for with the business coach. Her comments were posted to 3,000 people and Ms Johnson, of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, was inundated with messages from clients questioning her integrity.

After the post last May, Hammond, from Jersey, set up her own business selling the same courses, the High Court heard.

Emma Hammond wrote messages on social media about Lisa Johnson (Picture: Champion News Service)

Ruling on the damages, Judge Richard Spearman KC said Ms Johnson suffered ‘very significant psychological consequences’ from the ‘nasty, baseless’ comments.

He ordered Hammond to pay £25,000 plus Ms Johnson’s £35,000 legal costs after she successfully sued for libel and malicious falsehood.