Selasa, 19 Juni 2012

Becky Miller: Drug-fuelled girl gang jailed over 4-hour torture of 21-year-old woman

Becky Miller: Drug-fuelled girl gang jailed over 4-hour torture of 21-year-old woman

  • Becky Miller was tied to a chair, slashed, burned with a cigarette and kicked
  • She was told she would never see her baby again, acid would be thrown in her face and her body would be dumped in a river
  • She is now scarred for life, afraid to go out and needs psychiatric counselling
  • Trouble flared after a drink and drug-fuelled 'girls night in' which descended into a fight
  • Her four tormenters have been jailed for seven years and showed no remorse

By Paul Milligan

PUBLISHED: 17:15 EST, 18 June 2012 | UPDATED: 08:45 EST, 19 June 2012

Kelly Harrison, 30, was sentenced to 27 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court, for actual bodily harm and false imprisonment

Jailed: Kelly Harrison, 30, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for actual bodily harm and false imprisonment

A drug-fuelled girl gang who turned on their friend torturing her for four hours, threatening to cut off her fingers, pour acid in her face and dump her body in a river has been jailed after they posted pictures of the horror attack on Facebook.

Terrified Becky Miller, 21, was tied to a chair, and was slashed, burned with a cigarette lighter and kicked in the ordeal in Birkenhead, Merseyside, which has left her scarred for life.

Her four tormentors laughed as their victim screamed and begged to be freed and at one point the mother-of-one was told she would 'never see her baby again' because her body would be dumped in a river.

She was also made to clean-up her own blood from the floor after being punched in the nose.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the four girls were so obsessed with Facebook they instantly posted shocking photos of the crime on their social networking sites.

But their pride over what they had done became part of their downfall after the images were used to help put them behind bars.

Unemployed Jocelyn Keating, 21, her cousins Ashleigh Gray, 20, and Kelly Harrison, 30, and Marie Frank, 22, showed no remorse when they appeared in the dock.

They have been jailed for a total of seven years for actual bodily harm and false imprisonment.

The attack in February last year has left Miss Miller afraid to go out and needing psychiatric counselling.

The court heard that trouble flared on a 'night in for the girls' which descended into a fight after several hours or snorting cocaine and drinking vodka and brandy.

After the attack Miss Miller only managed to escape after a row broke out between the gang and she fled, cowering behind a car.

Former shop-owner Harrison had invited Keating and Gray to her £175,000 flat in East Float Dock in Birkenhead where, with Frank, they spent the evening drinking and taking drugs with Harrison's four-year-old daughter Precious was asleep in another bedroom.

Miller arrived at the flat when Harrison and Gray picked her up from Liverpool when they were returning from picking-up more cocaine for the second time that night.

Jurors heard how Harrison's sister, who was not named in court, complained she had been 'jumped' while on a night out, blaming Miller for the attack.

After spending several hours drinking and taking drugs 'the atmosphere changed' for the worse at around 3:30am and there was a fight between Miller and Jocelyn Keating.

Jocelyn Keating Marie Frank

Attackers: Jocelyn Keating, 21,  left, was jailed for 22 months, whilst Marie Frank, 21, right was sentenced to 20 months, both for actual bodily harm and false imprisonment of Becky Miller, 21, at a house party in Merseyside

Prosecution counsel Mr Neville Biddle QC said: 'Miss Miller was begging to call a taxi and to be allowed to go home.

'But she was punched in the nose by Ashleigh Gray who made her clean the floor of her own blood before Jocelyn Keating dragged her around the floor. Kelly Harrison then slapped her and she heard someone say 'cut her fingers off'.

'There was an attempt to tie her up and she was told she would never see her baby again and one of the 'fellas' was coming round to pour acid on her face.

'Keating then took pictures and posted them on Facebook before she and Gray burned the jacket and her hair. Miss Miller told police 'they just kept burning me and burning me'.'

As the attack continued Miss Harrison and Miss Frank laughed as threats were made on their victim's life, as she screamed and begged them to let her go.

Frank was reported to have said: 'If I kill you I would get away with it because I'm a schizophrenic.'

Miss Miller managed to escape at 7:30am when an argument erupted between her tormentors, she fled the flat and cowered behind a car where she used a mobile phone dial to 999 but before police arrived another resident came to her aid.

Miss Miller was too scared to go near to the flat but when officers arrived they arrested the four women, despite their att empts to clear-up incriminating evidence.

The four-hour ordeal took place at Kelly Harrison's flat in East Float Quay in Birkenhead

Crime scene: The four-hour ordeal took place at Kelly Harrison's flat in East Float Quay in Birkenhead

In the 16 months since the attack she has been too frightened to go out socially and is scheduled for psychiatric counselling.

Each of the defence counsels told Judge Graham Morrow QC that the four felt 'remorse' for what took place and pleaded for leniency, saying they had troubled pasts.

At their trial Miss Harrison and Miss Frank were convicted on charges of causing actual bodily harm and false imprisonment. Miss Keating, Miss Gray, pleaded guilty to similar charges.

Sentencing them Judge Morrow QC said: 'Keating and Gray did most of the attacking and Frank did the least but Harrison it was your flat and your daughter was there.

'Each of you embarked on a campaign of mindless and atrocious violence which forced your victim to genuinely fear for her life. I can sum-up your crime simply - you tortured her.

'While you witnessed Miss Miller giving evidence I saw that you showed no emotion. There is only one sentenc e to impose and that is a custodial one.'

Keating, who pleaded guilty, was jailed for 22 months, while Gray was sentenced to 21 months detention in a Young Offenders Institute.

Harrison was jailed for 27 months and Frank was sent down for 20 months.

A restraining order was also imposed prohibiting any of them, friends, or agents from contacting their victim Miss Miller for five years.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

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20 months? I'm sure they can actually kill her when dey get out n get 36 months each. SMH.

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Sentences of that length would be okay if they weren't spent in some holiday camp with gym, swimming pool, electronic games, satellite TV, good meals, own hotel room with en suite bathroom, but spent instead, breaking rocks in a quarry for 12 hours a day.

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More of Labours low life scum society. Socialism has destroyed this country once and for all. These trailer trash will be out in a few months and continue their useless drug fueled lives whilst on benefits. This socialist inspired, low bred welfare society is the ruin of the UK.

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Justice? What a farce.

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Seven years - out in three - still on drug supply in lousy security jails - laughing at the weak systems - ready to do the same again - where is the justice? SORT IT OUT YOU LILLY - LIVERED SELF COSSETING POLITICIANS.

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It is very sad that after 16 months this young woman is only 'scheduled' for psychiatric counselling! My suggestion would be that the flat where the torture took place should be sold and some of the proceeds allocated for private treatment. It's about time judges were able to take more practical action against people who commit crime, in addition to sentencing them appropriately. US judges have a great deal more power to 'make the punishment fit the crime', it seems.

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In the US that would be kidnapping and probably have a 20 year sentence attached to it. Here is pffffffff, well, 27 months then; Next!

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Not long enough sentences for this collection of rough trade.

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Feel sorry for the London rioters who only looted and got 6 months, but threats to kill and these girls get a free bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner plus a warm shower.

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I wonder if these nasty pieces of work have always been like it, or have they changed their personalities due to the pervasive drink and drugs culture. Many of the crimes reported here have a very large element of drug and alcohol use. This is not a problem that is going to go away any time soon

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