No jail time for teenage girl who took part in Surrey swarming
A teenager who took part in the swarming of a 15-year-old girl in Surrey last year will not serve any jail time.
Instead, the young offender, whose identity is protected by the courts, was given an 18-month conditional discharge after earlier pleading guilty to assault causing bodily harm. She must abide by a series of conditions including taking part in an intensive support and supervision program and volunteering.
Last May, a group of teenage girls swarmed the victim. She was kicked and punched as other teens looked on.
Adding to the victim’s humiliation, her attackers made her kiss their shoes.
Her cries for help were ignored, but some of those who watched the crime recorded video on their cell phones. The video was later posted on social media.
The terrified victim was left with a multitude of injuries, including a broken nose and extensive bruising.
“It’s just wrecked us. It’s very emotional. It’s very hard,” the victim’s mother told CTV News as she choked back tears.
“My daughter still isn’t returning to in-class learning. She still isn’t really leaving the house and she’s still having a lot of issues with anxiety and sleeping,” she said.
When video of the attack was played in court, the victim’s parents became visibly upset, her mom leaving the room temporarily.
The victim's parents read impact statements, both saying they struggle to deal with what happened.
“Every day I feel consumed by what happened to her,” the mother said. “I am terrified every time she leaves the house. Every time the phone rings, I get a sick feeling in my stomach."
The victim’s father said he has many sleepless nights and still feels sick about what happened. He won’t forget going to the hospital to see his daughter after the attack.
“I didn’t want her to see how much it destroyed me inside,” he said, explaining that his daughter had tried to walk away from the attack and didn’t understand why girls she thought were her friends would hurt her.
“I lost a piece of me I’ll never get back,” he said.
The victim was not in the courtroom. However, in a victim impact statement read by her mother, she recalled how she felt the night of the attack.
“I thought I was going to die. I have never been that scared in my life,” she wrote.
Crown Counsel Trevor Cockfield said that while the offender did not physically attack the victim, she encouraged others to hit her and was one of those who forced the victim to kiss her feet.
Defence lawyer Tom Spettigue read an apology written by the accused.
“I was not in a good place and I’ve made so many changes and improvements and nothing like this will ever happen again. I’ve learned, grown and I will do better,” the offender wrote.
The teen also apologized to the mom and her victim in person shortly after the incident.
During sentencing, a provincial court judge in Surrey noted that the 15-year-old had difficulty with alcohol use, that she had also been a victim of abuse, and that she was remorseful.
Outside court, the victim’s parents said they hope the girls who hurt their daughter will turn their lives around.
Earlier this month, one of the other teens who took part in the swarming was sentenced after also pleading guilty to assault causing bodily harm. She was given credit for 161 days of time served and placed on an “intensive support and supervision order” for 18 months, to be followed by probation.
“I’m stuck between being that angry mom and I want them thrown into juvie, but then I also understand that they are kids and I want them to get the mental health help that they need,” the victim’s mom said.
“I want them to go to school and graduate. I want them to take a better path and make better choices,” she added.
She hopes parents will sit down and talk to their kids about what happened. She said even witnessing an attack and not calling for help adds more trauma to victims.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.