Brianna Ghey's murder could not have been 'reasonably' foreseen

Murdered trans teenager Brianna Ghey was ‘at risk’ from child sexual exploitation via strangers online and had tried to prevent her mother accessing her phone, an inquest heard.

But the danger posed by sadistic killers, Scarlett Jenkinson – influenced by violent dark web content - and Eddie Ratcliffe, ‘could not have been predicted’, a coroner heard.

Brianna, 16, was stabbed 28 times in the neck, chest, head and back in a horrific ordeal.

Her attackers, each 15 at the time of the murder in February last year, blamed each other but both were found guilty of the murder in Culcheth, a suburb of Warrington, Cheshire, and given life sentences.

Concluding an inquest at Warrington yesterday, Coroner Jacqueline Devonish gave a verdict of unlawful killing.

Ms Devonish praised a ‘commendable’ campaign by Brianna’s mother Esther Ghey for controls on children’s mobile phone access and ‘mindfulness’ classes in schools.

But she said the campaign was ‘addressed at high level government’ and declined to issue any recommendations herself.

Ms Devonish also declined to issue any comments towards schools, education or social services as procedural changes have already been made.

Read More

Brianna Ghey's killer Scarlett Jenkinson was 'set to be expelled when she stabbed trans teen'

However, she said police ‘ought to have at least visited’ Jenkinson when she was found to have given a fellow pupil a sweet laced with cannabis at her previous school in September 2022.

The incident let to her having a ‘managed move’ to Birchwood from her former school, Culcheth High, where she knew Ratcliffe.

Jenkinson befriended Brianna at Birchwood’s ‘inclusion unit’ – an area of the school for pupils with difficulties who needed extra support – at the beginning of November 2022.

Brianna ‘had behavioural issues within the first three days’ of moving to Birchwood in 2020, according to school deputy safeguarding lead, Angela Clark.

The teenager – who eating disorder, ADHD and self-harmed – was repeatedly offered support but ‘didn’t wish to engage’.

In autumn 2022, Ms Clark said: ‘There were some concerns with Brianna such as her refusing to hand over her mobile phone in school and absenteeism.

As well as Brianna’s various health struggles, which included her mother reluctantly allowing her to obtain puberty blockers, Ms Clark revealed ‘concern about her spending time on various social media platforms’ – putting her at risk of meeting abusers.

She said: ‘(Brianna) had thousands of followers, she’d also accepted gifts from people she didn’t know via TikTok after she’d created a wish list.

‘Brianna would not allow her mum to access her phone and would rarely put it down. It was always on her person.

Read More

Eddie Ratcliffe's mother reveals son 'appeared his normal self' on night he murdered Brianna Ghey

‘Brianna was deemed to be a medium risk of child sexual exploitation.’

Fears for her safety prompted a referral to social services in 2022.

Days before the murder, the teenager and her grandmother were called to a meeting at Birchwood, after she refused to attend classes for a week.

Ms Clark revealed concerns of ‘inappropriate use of phones, the unacceptable length of her skirt, which she kept rolling up (and) disrespectful behaviour towards staff’.

Asked about Jenkinson’s arrival, when she was also placed in the ‘inclusion unit’ with Brianna, Ms Clark said ‘nothing (in her behaviour) would suggest she was a risk’.

The apparent friendship between Brianna and Jenkinson was ‘seen as a positive’ and ‘there was never any sense of untoward behaviour,’ the teacher recalled.

Ms Clark added: ‘We could not have foreseen what was to happen.’

Fiona Cowan, Warrington Council head of child safeguarding, said a review of Jenkinson’s school transfer found government guidelines were met but information ‘could have been more robustly’ assessed.

Mental health and other evidence will be considered in future cases.

Ms Cowan said the cannabis sweet incident could not be seen as a precursor of such a savage crime.

Sandie Hayes, Wigan Council head of children’s social care, said Ratcliffe was known to social services since soon after his birth.

Ms Hayes gave no further details but said: ‘Eddie’s mother and extended family were considered a safety factor.’

Earlier this year, his father Kyle Ratcliffe, 36, was jailed for 15 months after admitting indecent exposure and taking an indecent image of a child – not his son.

Esther Ghey did not comment after the inquest.