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
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
ArriveCan contractor to be admonished by MPs in extraordinarily rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.