20/05/2005

Teenager arrested over ‘happy slapping’ attack

A 16-year-old girl has been arrested following an attack on another teenage girl, which was filmed on a mobile phone.

Sixteen-year-old Becky Smith was attacked by a gang of teenagers near her home in Manchester on May 9. Becky, who is due to begin her GCSEs soon, was beaten until she lost consciousness and suffered head injuries and temporary paralysis following the attack. She had to spend two days at North Manchester General hospital, following the assault.

The gang filmed the attack on Becky on a video mobile phone – a practise that has become known as ‘happy slapping’.

The video was then shown around Becky’s school – Plant Hill High School in Blackley. Another pupil at the school showed her 13-year-old brother Craig the footage.

A spokesperson for Plant Hill High School said: “This is a police matter about an incident which happened outside school.”

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a sixteen-year-old girl had been arrested and was being questioned on suspicion of assault.

(KMcA)




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