A masked gang of youths have been captured on CCTV “viciously” stabbing a transgender girl in an attack organised on Snapchat.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was stabbed nine times in Harrow, north-west London, in February last year.
The hooded and masked gang have now been jailed for the “abhorrent” assault, which the victim only survived because passers-by intervened to help.
Summer Betts-Ramsey, 20, who carried out the stabbing, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in youth detention on Monday.
Judge Philip Katz KC told her she was a “dangerous offender” who continues to pose a risk to the public.
Metropolitan Police
Bradley Harris, Camron Osei, and Shiloh Hindes, all 18, were sentenced to three years in youth detention, while a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named, was given a youth rehabilitation order.
In January 2024, the girl was with Harris at his house when the pair kissed and she performed oral sex on him, the court heard.
Soon afterwards, another friend told Harris the girl was a “tranny”, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said.
She denied it, but when Harris picked up a knife and said: “I’ll stab you if you lie.”
The girl admitted that she was transgender before being told to leave.
When Harris told the group she had lied to him, they turned on her, Ms Heer said.
‘Immediately attacked’
On the day of the attack, the girl left her home believing she was going to a roller-skating event with them, the court heard.
Betts-Ramsey, from Barnet; Harris, from Harrow; Osei, from Tadworth, Surrey; Hindes, from Southwark; and the 17-year-old boy were all dressed in dark clothing, with masks and hoods, and were waiting for her at the bus stop.
Once at a nearby car park, she was “immediately attacked” and had no time to say anything or defend herself, the court was told.
The CCTV footage showed Betts-Ramsey stabbing her as the others continued to attack her with kicks and punches for about 45 seconds before leaving the scene.
The victim was taken to hospital after members of the public called an ambulance.
Ms Heer added that the group later bragged about the assault and taunted the victim on social media.
A 17-year-old girl who was not part of the group or the planning was also handed a supervision order after she “joined in” with the attack before robbing the girl’s handbag, the court heard.
Left with ‘thick scars’
The 17-year-old boy sent the girl a message which said “Ur lookin sweet”, the court was told.
That night, a message was sent to Betts-Ramsey which said: “Stabbing a girl cus she’s trans… its disgusting,” to which Betts-Ramsey replied: “IT deserved it.”
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the girl said she still has “thick scars” as a result of the attack.
Handing down his sentence, Judge Katz said the victim had been “viciously assaulted”.
“She was punched to the ground and repeatedly kicked and stamped on. Rather than help, all of those involved ran off. She suffered really serious physical and emotional injuries.
“Kicking and standing on someone when they are on the ground is abhorrent.”
Each member of the group “played a very significant role”, the judge said, adding that the video footage of the attack was “sickening to watch”.
‘A premeditated attack’
All members of the group previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and Betts-Ramsey also admitted possession of a knife.
Det Insp Nicola Hannant, who led the Metropolitan Police investigation, said after the sentencing: “This was a premeditated attack where the young people involved lured the victim to the venue, concealed their identities by wearing face coverings, discussed using weapons and, after the attack, made efforts to get rid of any evidence.
“It was incredibly fortunate for all those involved that the injuries caused were not more serious, as the level of violence used could quite easily have resulted in the death of the victim.”