Scots schoolgirl’s hair set on fire in sickening attack by vicious teen gang
Scots schoolgirl’s hair set on fire in sickening attack by vicious teen gang
Tanith Bavaird, 16, suffered a horror assault after 12 teens repeatedly kicked, punched and stamped on her, during a horrific incident in East Kilbride.
A Scots schoolgirl was left battered and bruised after a vicious attack by a gang who tried to set her hair on fire.
Tanith Bavaird, 16, suffered a sickening assault after a gang of around 12 teens repeatedly kicked, punched and stamped on her, during a horrific incident in East Kilbride last year.
The music lover had just left a recording session at Universal Connections near the Dollan Baths in the Lanarkshire town, at around 6.20pm, when the group surrounded her and launched a sickening attack, which only ended when a teenage boy told the girls to stop or they would ‘kill her’, Glasgow Live reports.
Tanith was left with blood missing chunks of hair, ripped clothes and bruises on her face and body after the gang rattled her head off the kerb during the ordeal.
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Now mum Sharon Bavaird, 48, has told of the moment she received a call from her daughter ‘in hysterics’ after she was beaten by the gang.
Sharon said: “I froze when I picked up the phone, she was in hysterics.
“I told her to go to the police station which is close and I would get a taxi from work to meet her there.
“When I got there I was heartbroken, she has lovely thick hair and chunks had been ripped out of them, she was red and bleeding from the cuts and her clothes were falling apart from where they had been ripped.
“She told me that they circled her while the ringleader approached and grabbed her by the hair before pulling her to the ground while the rest started kicking, punching and stamping on her. I think it was only the fact that she had washed her hair that morning that saved her because they tried to light her hair on fire but it wouldn’t light.
“She doesn’t know how long it lasted because of the shock but I think they would have seriously hurt her or worse if the teenage boy who she had went to nursery with hadn’t come over and pulled them off her. He was a hero that night.
“When it all healed you could see that there were actually footprints on her legs and back. As a mum to see your daughter in that state its horrendous.
“Even now I still get upset and shake with anger every time I think of what they did to her, she was just a random person to them, she wasn’t hurting anyone. She was just trying to get home.”
Tanith was rushed in to hospital where medics revealed she had a concussion and she was kept overnight for checks.
After the shocking attack, police confirmed that four teenage girls aged between 13 and 15 had been reported and referred to the Scottish Children’s reporter.
Tanith had to undergo counselling following the attack which followed the death of her gran from cancer.
The concerned mum says the bubbly straight-A student’s confidence was ruined by the attack and the continued threats and abuse.
She said: “It’s shattered her confidence. It’s almost like she is a prisoner in her own home because she has to get the bus to go places and there is always a chance she’ll see them.
“It’s also left me a worried mess because every time she steps out the door now I think it’s going to happen again, I make her message me that she got to school safe. I make her text me every hour that she is okay because I’m so scared they attack her from behind or knock her out and really hurt her.
“These kids believe they are untouchable because of their age.”
Sharon has set up a support group for fellow parents in East Kilbride who have been affected by violence amongst teens. . Since setting up the group, it has attracted hundreds of parents sharing their own stories.
She continued: “I feel like we’re all being ignored about this. Kids are terrified to go about their own town for fear of getting attacked.
“Children should have the right to feel safe Not just that, the kids who are involved in these incidents clearly need help.
“The violence is only escalating. Is it going to take someone’s daughter being killed for police and the authorities to act?”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers are aware of recent incidents involving groups of youths within East Kilbride committing assaults and recording these acts on mobile phones.
“Four female youths aged between 13 and 15 have been traced and reports have been submitted to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.”
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