A woman who carried out a transphobic stabbing attack motivated by a “distorted notion of revenge” has been sentenced to more than eight years in youth detention.
The victim, a transgender woman who was 18 at the time, was stabbed nine times in Harrow last February in an attack involving five young people wearing masks, the Old Bailey heard.
She only survived because passersby stepped in to help, the court was told.
After stabbing the victim nine times, Summer Betts-Ramsey, 20, told a friend “It deserved it”. She admitted possessing a knife and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Sentencing her to eight and a half years in youth detention, of which four and half must be served in custody, Mr Justice Katz described the attack as “abhorrent”. He said it was motivated by a “distorted notion of revenge”, in part linked to the woman’s gender identity.
The judge added that Betts-Ramsey, from Barnet, was a “dangerous offender”.
Three other youths involved in the attack Bradley Harris from Harrow; Camron Osei from Tadworth, Surrey; and Shiloh Hindes from Southwark, who are all 18, were sentenced to three years in youth detention. A fifth member of the gang, a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named because of his age, was given a youth rehabilitation order.
The gang were angered by the victim lying about her gender identity after she kissed Harris and gave him oral sex, the court heard.
Harris was then told the woman was transgender, and he challenged her about it – which she initially denied “having been attacked in the past because of her transgender identity”, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the Old Bailey.
She admitted she was transgender when Harris threatened to stab her, the court heard.
The gang then took to Snapchat to plan to “beat her up” after luring her to a roller disco in Harrow.
Phone evidence revealed that during a call, Betts-Ramsey told someone: “I have to go to Harrow to beat up some … a fucking tranny bro,” the court heard.
As well as being repeatedly stabbed, the victim was punched, kicked and stamped on while transphobic slurs were shouted at her.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said she is living with “thick scars” and still struggles to sleep after the incident.
Members of the group later bragged about the assault and taunted their victim, posting footage of what they had done on social media.
The judge said the victim had been “viciously assaulted”. In his sentencing remarks, he added: “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.”
He said video footage of the attack was “sickening to watch”.
As Betts-Ramsey was stabbing the victim, the others continued to attack her with kicks and punches for about 45 seconds before the group left the scene, the prosecutor said.
Members of the public helped the woman and an ambulance was called, the court heard.
A 17-year-old girl who has admitted to robbing the woman’s handbag after the attack has yet to be sentenced.