Lesbian teen beaten in gang attack led by ex-girlfriend
Victim Aimee Purdy was lured to her ex’s home (Facebook)
A teenager was brutally beaten by a group of women led by her ex-girlfriend, who believed the victim had intimate pictures of her.
Aimee Purdey, then 18, was attacked by her former partner Simone McDermott and two others in Crumpsall, Manchester, on 3 January last year.
McDermott, 19, asked the victim to come to her apartment saying “I miss you” in a text message.
When Purdey arrived at the flat, she was attacked by McDermott and her friends Melissa Marriott, Siobhan Wait, and Victoria Houghton.
The four began to punch and kick Purdey, who curled up into a ball on the floor.
The attack was filmed by one of the group on a phone, the MEN reported.
In the two-minute clip, played at Manchester Crown Court, one of the attackers can be heard shouting: “Give her here – I’ll have a go.”
The four women were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court
Another threatens “I’m gonna break your face” as Purdey begs for mercy.
After the attack, Purdey was thrown outside and called the police, who found her on the street “in an extremely distressed state”.
The four women were arrested an hour later, when officers discovered the footage on Houghton’s phone.
Defence lawyer Erimnaz Mushtaq said her client lured the victim to her apartment to retrieve some intimate pictures of herself she believed were on Purdy’s phone.
The court also heard McDermott had been in a relationship with Purdey, but began an affair with Marriott while the victim was on holiday in Spain.
The victim sustained minor injuries on her head and body.
In a statement, she said: “I had a lot of pain with my injuries and I was unable to leave my room for two to three weeks – when I did go out I had to have someone with me.
“I’ve started getting shopping delivered to my house and I feel unsure going to the shops as I might bump into Simone McDermott and her friends.
“I didn’t think they were sorry for what they did.”
At a sentencing hearing on 1 April, Judge Timothy Smith handed McDermott and Marriott two years in a young offenders’ institution, suspended for two years.
They were each ordered to carry out 280 hours’ unpaid work and complete up to 30 days rehabilitation activity. They were also ordered to pay their victim £750 compensation each.
Houghton was given 14 months, suspended for two years, in a young offenders’ institution.
Wait was given 13 months, suspended for two years, in a young offenders’ institution.
Each is required to complete 180 hours’ unpaid work and must pay their victim £250 compensation.
Simone McDermott and Melissa Marriott admitted assault with intent to rob.
Siobhan Wait and Victoria Houghton pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
